Marion, Al. – The MMI Tiger baseball team swept East Mississippi CC to start the 2026 season. They will travel to Northeast Mississippi CC next Tuesday, February 3^rd, for their first road trip.

Game 1 EMCC 0 MMI 4

Marion secured game one of Thursday's doubleheader after taking a 3-0 lead in the bottom half of the seventh inning. The Tiger's first hit by sophomore Riley Friend led the charge with Jackson Newton, Patrick Eichelberger, and Christian Files each crossing the plate. Jon Hyde scored MMI's fourth and final run of the game in the eighth inning.

Sophomore Nate Valles earned the Opening Day start and worked five scoreless innings. He gave up just two hits with no walks and four strikeouts. Seth Hammock worked four scoreless innings in relief with a walk and five strikeouts.

Parick Eichelberger (1-for-4, R, RBI), Riley Friend (1-for-2, RBI, 2BB), and Jackson Newton (1-for-2, R, 2BB) each recorded hits in the win.

Game 2 EMCC 4 MMI 10

Austin Allen started on the mound for Marion in Game 2 and worked six scoreless innings, giving up one hit with a strikeout. Cooper Hardin, Jon Hyde, and Sutton Hyde all saw action in relief with Hyde getting a double play to end the game.

Bodie Giddiens led Marion at the plate with four hits in five plate appearances; a double, a homerun, two runs scored and an RBI. Hayden Markfort, Patrick Eichelberger and Christian Files each had two hits in the win with each scoring a run.

Riley Friend (1-for-3, R, HR (GS), RBI), Leyton Coffman 1-for-5, 2B, R), and Sean Nichols (1-for-3, R) also finished with hits for the Tigers.