Prior to the 2024 season, some people thought that the Marion softball team could struggle to score runs considering that seven starters graduated last May. Those concerns have slowed some these days, though. Marion extended its run as one of the state's top hitting teams on Tuesday afternoon, exploding for victories of 14-1 and 20-3 to sweep a 5A East doubleheader against Batesville at Marion Sports Complex. The Patriots (11-13 overall, 7-5 5A East) picked up their sixth straight conference victory on Tuesday to remain tied with Nettleton for the last playoff spot for this year's Class 5A state tournament in Harrison. Marion ripped 13 hits in the first contest, including multiple-hit days from Anna Hitchman (2-3 in the opener with two RBI and a run scored), Kayson “K. Belle” McClain (2-3 with three runs scored and an RBI), Kelsey “Keppes” Eppes (2-3 with two RBI and a run), and Kendall Eppes (2-2 with two RBI and a run scored). Jordyn Stinson drove in two runs, while Kolbie Triplett scored twice and drove in a run. As a team, Marion drew six walks and struck out only three times. Hitchman earned the victory in the opener, firing four innings, striking out five Pioneers, and allowing only one hit and one run. The Patriot hit parade continued into the nightcap as the hosts scored 20 times in the bottom of the first to coast to victory. Marion again muscled out 13 hits, led by Hitchman (2-2 with an RBI and a run in the second game), Alexis Jones (2-2 with three RBI and a run), Kendall Eppes (2-2 with three RBI and a run) and Chloe Miller (2-2 with three RBI and two runs). McClain added three RBI and three runs, Triplett scored twice and drove in a run, and Ella McConnell scored twice, drove in a run, and walked. Kelsey Eppes scored two runs and drove in another. Hitchman earned the victory in the nightcap by striking out two batters and allowing just one earned run. Hitchman, Triplett, and McClain reached leading off the first inning and Kelsey Eppes promptly delivered a pair of runs with a single to right field, followed by a Stinson double that chased in two more Patriot runs for a 4-0 lead five batters into the game. A Kendall Eppes hit delivered Jones for a 5-0 lead, and when Hitchman stroked a hit to center field, McConnell, Maddie Cupples, and Kendall Eppes all came down for an 8-0 bulge. Triplett's single plated Hitchman, a Kelsey Eppes hit brought down Triplett, and when McConnell was hit by a pitch to score McClain, Marion led 11-0 after just one inning. Sophomore Kaitlyn Austin roped a double in the second inning to chase in Olivia Morquecho for a 12-0 lead, McClain singled to plate Austin, and McClain scored on a passed ball to cap the scoring for the Pats in game one. Batesville struck for three runs in the top of the first inning, but Hitchman immediately got one tally back when she led off the home portion of the first with a towering home run to get Marion within 3-1. A Stinson walk plated Triplett to get the hosts within 4-3, and a Kendall Eppes hit delivered Kelsey Eppes and McClain as the Pats took their first lead of the day at 4-3. McConnell's double delivered Stinson and a Miller triple chased in McConnell and Cupples for a 7-3 advantage. Leading 9-3, a Kelsey Eppes triple scored McClain, a Jones double delivered Kelsey Eppes, and Kendall Eppes plated Jones with a hit for a 12-3 lead. A Cupples double delivered McConnell and Kendall Eppes for a 14-3 bulge, and a Miller hit scored Cupples to extend the lead by one. With the bases loaded, McClain delivered the knockout blow, delivering Triplett, Miller, and Austin with a dramatic double, and Jones capped the scoring when she scored McClain and Alyssa McDaniel with a triple. WHAT'S NEXT? Marion hosts Tipton-Rosemark on Thursday, April 25 for a varsity/junior varsity doubleheader beginning at 4:30 p.m. The Pats wrap their 5A East conference slate on Tuesday, April 30 when they travel to play at Greene County Tech. The Greene County Tech series will begin at 4:30 p.m. and will be broadcast live on MarionPatriots.com and on the MPAN mobile app. 5A EAST RESULTS FROM 4/23 Marion 14, Batesville 1 Marion 20, Batesville 3 Nettleton 5, W. Memphis 0 Nettleton 13, W. Memphis Valley View 14, Paragould 5 Valley View 3, Paragould 1 Greene Co. Tech 3, Searcy 1 Greene Co. Tech 9, Searcy 0 5A EAST STANDINGS ON 4/24 SCHOOL CONF. RECORD Valley View 10-2* Greene Co. Tech 10-2* Searcy 10-2* Nettleton 7-5 MARION 7-5 W. Memphis 2-10 Paragould 2-10 Batesville 0-12 *clinched playoff spot Top four teams make playoffs in Harrison 5A EAST SERIES ON 4/30 Marion at Greene Co. Tech Valley View at Searcy Paragould at W. Memphis Batesville at Nettleton