Marion softball coach Sean Gray said during the off-season that he thought his 2022 Patriots would boast a formidable lineup. Gray's prophecy played out in full force on Tuesday afternoon at Marion sports complex against Jonesboro, as Marion totaled 31 runs in just seven innings of play, sweeping the Golden Hurricane in 5A East action (16-1 and 15-2). The Pats (9-3 overall, 3-1 5A East) jumped Jonesboro early in the first game, scoring four runs in the first inning, followed by a 10-run second inning in the three-inning contest. Marion tallied another 10-run inning in the second inning of game No. 2 to pull away from its league rivals. “We were worried before the game about popping the ball up some today,” said Gray. “We did a good job of staying back and lining the ball. We made a great job of making the adjustment against a pitcher who doesn't throw as hard as some of the ones we saw in Gulf Shores.” Marion's adjustment curve was swift as five of the first six Patriots reached base in the first contest and scored. Kelsey Baker (2-2 with two runs and a walk in the first game) led off with a single before stealing second base. Emerson Miller (two runs scored, two RBI, and a walk) plated Baker when Miller reached on an error. Centerfielder McKenzie Shinabery (three RBI, and a run scored) scored Miller on a ground out. Junior pitcher Anna Murphy (1-2, two runs scored) sparked a secondary rally by crushing a double into right-center field before rightfielder Kelsey Eppes (1-1 with three runs scored and an RBI) singled. Sophomore Anna Hitchman (2-3, six RBI and a run) plated Murphy and Eppes with a single. Marion's second-inning rally began with one out when Micah Cupples (2-2, two runs scored) and Baker singled, and Miller walked. Shinabery walked to drive in Cupples as Marion elected to take just one base at a time on hits. Murphy and Eppes walked with the bases loaded to plate two more runs. Hitchman stepped into the box and cranked a pitch over the left-center field for the sophomore's second career grand slam, and an 11-0 Marion lead. “She's ripping the ball really well right now, just doing everything we ask her to do,” said Gray. “She made a great play at first base, too.” Catcher Jacey Holder (1-2, two runs scored) walked before shortstop Brianna Morquecho (2-3, two RBI and a run) singled and Baker walked. A long Miller sacrifice fly and a Shinabery single capped the Marion second. Eppes walked leading off the third ahead of a Holder single, and Morquecho plated both with a triple that enacted the sportsmanship rule and clinched the 16-1 three-inning victory. Murphy (three innings, four strikeouts, three hits, and two runs) was nearly flawless inside the circle, as the southpaw faced the minimum through two innings. Jonesboro proved tougher to shake in the second game, barring Marion from the scoreboard in the top of the first inning and manufacturing a pair of runs in the bottom of the first for a 2-0 advantage into the second stanza. Leading off the second, Hitchman (1-1 with a run scored and an RBI in the second game) singled, Holder (1-2 with a run scored) walked, and Morquecho singled to load the bases with nobody out. Senior Claire Hall (2-3, two RBI, and two runs scores) struck a solid single to score Hitchman and Holder, as Morquecho sprinted to third. Miller (3-4 with three runs scored and three RBI) ripped a ball off the left-center field fence to score Morquecho and Cupples, and Miller easily motored into third. Murphy (3-3, three RBI, and two runs scored) plated Miller with a double, and Murphy came across when Holder reached on an error. After Jonesboro's first-inning rally, Murphy locked in and retired 11 of the next 12 batters. The junior worked four innings in the second game, struck out five batters, allowed three hits, two runs, did not issue a walk. Marion enforced the sportsmanship rule in the fourth inning by plating four more runs, spearheaded by RBI hits by Baker, Miller, Shinabery, and Murphy. Murphy closed out Jonesboro by striking out two batters in the bottom of the fourth. Marion plays Thursday at Brookland in a non-conference contest before jumping back into league action Tuesday night at Nettleton for a varsity doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 4:30, and both contests will be streamed live on MarionPatriots.com and on the Marion Patriots Activities Network.