The Marion softball team opened their 2024 season last week with four games in three days, including a three-game showing at a regional classic in Oxford, Mississippi. Marion hosted Wynne for opening day at Patriot Softball Complex and dropped a 7-4 decision before losing to South Panola (12-2) and North Ponotoc (8-3) in the first two contests in Oxford. The Patriots circled the wagons and slammed Saltillo 9-0 in the finale in Oxford to bring a 1-3 record back to Marion. MHS hosts Northpoint Christian and Riverside on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively this week. The Northpoint Christian contest begins at 5 p.m., Tuesday evening, while the Riverside game gets underway at 4:30 on Thursday. Marion jumped Wynne with a pair of first-inning runs in the season opener, starting when freshman catcher Kayson “K. Belle” McClain led off the game, followed by freshman Kolbie Triplett drawing a walk on a full count, giving the Pats two runners on with nobody out. McClain stole third and scored when senior Anna Hitchman grounded out, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead early. Senior four-year starter and all-state performer Kelsey Eppes, who is Marion's all-time leader in doubles, added another two-bagger to her career total, scoring Triplett and the Pats surged ahead 2-0 after a frame. But Wynne rallied back with five runs in the second inning and a single tally in the third to take a 6-2 lead into the sixth inning. The Marion bats rallied up in the home half of the sixth inning when junior outfielder Chloe Miller struck a stout single into left field and scored on a Kendall Eppes hit to get the Pats within 6-3. Wynne got that run back in the top of the seventh, and Marion capped the scoring in the bottom half of the final frame when McClain walked and scored on Kelsey Eppes's second double of the day. In all, Triplett, Kelsey Eppes, and Kendall Eppes each finished with two hits against Wynne, with Kelsey Eppes driving in a pair of runs, and Kendall Eppes recording another RBI. Triplett reached base three times, including a walk, and Marion only struck out just one time as a team. Marion opened its run in Oxford against regional power South Panola. Jordyn Stinson, McClain, Kelsey, and Kendall Eppes came up with Marion's four hits against South Panola, with Kelsey Eppes driving in two runs, and McClain and Triplett accounting for Marion's scoring. Marion struck for three runs in the first inning against North Pontotoc, and the Patriots outhit the Vikings 6-5 for the game. McClain started the Marion uprising against North Pontotoc with a lead-off single before she stole second base, and moved to third on a Triplett groundout. Following a Hitchman hit and a Kendall Eppes walk, Kelsey Eppes singled in McClain with a single to left field. A Miller single brought Hitchman in with the game's second run, and when Ella McConnell was hit by a pitch to score Kendall Eppes, Marion led 3-0. But the Vikings answered with three runs in the first and four more in the second to take control of the contest. Marion recorded its first shutout of 2024 in its Oxford finale, blanking Saltillo in a nine-run victory, and the Patriot offense pounded out 10 hits, with eight of the nine starters recording a knock. Kelsey Eppes led the way by going 2-3 at the plate with two runs scored and an RBI, while Hitchman finished 2-3, including a home run, with three RBI and a run scored. McClain doubled, scored twice, and registered an RBI with a walk, while Triplett drove in two runs and walked. Miller had a hit and scored a run, while McConnell and Stinson also had hits. Hitchman picked up the win over Saltillo by working four scoreless innings, striking out five, allowing four hits, and walking just one.