Lady Eagles drop openers at Model Tourney

Excel Christian took a 7-6 lead in the bottom of the fifth on a two-out single to left field by Lindsey Mauldin in their season opener Friday night, but the Lady Dragons scored twice in the top of the sixth for a come-from-behind, 8-7, defeat of the Lady Eagles.

The season opener was played at the Model Invitational in Rome.

The Lady Eagles also dropped a 10-2 decision to Class 4A Cedartown Friday night.

In the opener with Pepperell, Taylor Gibson went the distance in the pitching circle for ECA. All the runs against her were earned on 12 hits and a walk. She struck out four.

Gibson also contributed at the plate with a pair of hits and one RBI. She also stole a base.

Rachel Parrott hit a 2-run homerun for Excel. Brighton McCollum added a hit and one RBI with two stolen bases. Aliza Baker had an RBI double, Kalli Beth Scheff had an RBI hit, and Landry McCollum added one hit and stole a base.

In Friday’s nightcap, the Lady Bulldogs jumped to a 7-0 lead through just three innings while the Lady Eagles’ defense struggled. Excel committed six errors in the game.

ECA pitcher, Hannah Lee, suffered the pitching loss despite not allowing an earned run. She yielded six hits in three innings in the circle and struck out one.

Whitney Harris, Brighton McCollum, Landry McCollum, and Parrott had the only ECA hits. Gibson and Brighton McCollum collected one RBI each.

Excel, 0-2, is scheduled to play Chattooga and Southeast Whitfield on Saturday at the Model Tournament in Rome.