BATON ROUGE, La. - The Hinds Community College Softball team stayed hot on Tuesday, improving to 5-0 on the season with a dominant doubleheader sweep over Baton Rouge. Hinds' offense set the tone all afternoon, exploding for 18 runs on 26 hits, including eight extra-base hits to power the pair of victories.
GAME ONE
The Lady Eagles wasted no time getting on the board. Jalia McDaniel went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate and ignited the scoring with a first-inning home run. Emma Hudson followed with a double and later scored on a two-run blast from Alyx Hall. After Mackenzie Smith was hit by a pitch and Abby McLean singled, Adyson McKnight stretched the lead to 4-0 with an RBI single.
Hinds broke the game open in the second inning, plating five runs on six singles from McDaniel, Hudson, Smith, Aubrie Carter, McKnight, and Aaliyah Nixon, along with a Hall double to cap the rally.
In the circle, Claire Mellard delivered another strong performance, tossing a complete game to earn her third win of the season. Mellard allowed five runs on six hits while striking out five.
GAME TWO
After jumping ahead early in Game One, the Eagles showed resilience in Game Two.
McDaniel once again sparked the offense after reaching on a two-out hit by pitch, and Hudson followed with her second home run of the season to give Hinds an early boost. Baton Rouge answered to take a 4-2 lead in the third, but the Eagles quickly responded. A single by LaKeitha Sampson and a walk by Addison Galloway set the stage for a two-run sacrifice fly from McDaniel to tie the game.
McLean blasted her first home run of the season in the fourth to knot the score at 5-5. After the Bears reclaimed a 6-5 lead, Hinds answered again, Smith launched a go-ahead homer in the fifth, and RBI singles from Galloway and McDaniel in the seventh provided valuable insurance runs.
The pitching staff used an all-hands-on-deck approach. Jazmin Robertson made her third start, throwing two innings and allowing four runs (two earned). Laicie Bridges added two innings of relief, and Mattie Gibson secured the win with a scoreless fifth. McLean capped her strong day with a solid outing in the circle, facing seven batters and allowing just one baserunner.
The Lady Eagles now head to Gulf Shores, Alabama, for a four-game set in the Coyote Classic before returning home to Rene T. Warren Field for their home opener and a 12-game homestand.
Fans can follow live updates on GameChanger (Hinds Softball Eagles) or on X at @HindsCC_SB.
