Marion softball's early-season schedule has taken the Patriots around the region in search of good competition, and Team 23 has responded. The Pats lost their season opener at Class 2A No. 1 East Poinsett County 3-1 last week, but Marion responded with a 15-3 home victory over Southaven, Mississippi last Thursday afternoon before earning another non-conference win, this time 7-2 on Tuesday night at Center Hill, in Olive Branch, Mississippi. Both of Marion's hits at E.P.C. came off the bat of junior all-conference performer Anna Hitchman, who crashed a home run and a double. Senior two-time all-state centerfielder McKenzie Shinabery walked twice, and senior Claire Hall reached on an error. Hitchman was solid in the circle as well, scattering five hits over four innings with four strikeouts. Marion hosted Southaven for the first official game at its brand-new ballpark, and removed much of the drama early, scoring four times in the first inning, five times in the second, and four more times in the third. Shinabery was up to her old tricks leading off the bottom of the first when she crushed a gargantuan home run that doubled as the first round-tripper in the ballpark. The senior finished two for three against Southaven with a pair of runs scored. In all, nine Patriots recorded hits against Southaven, and seniors Jacey Holder and Anna Murphy each finished with three hits and three RBI. Shinabery, Brianna Morquecho (two for four hitting with two runs and two RBI against Southaven), and Kelsey Eppes (two for three hitting with three runs scored and two RBI) all recorded at least two hits. The left-handed Murphy took the ball against Southaven, spinning a five-inning complete game, surrendering just six hits, with four strikeouts, and allowing just three runs. Forty-four of Murphy's 68 pitches were called strikes, and she dealt a first-pitch strike to 13 of the 21 batters she faced. The Patriots blew open a close game by scoring five runs over the last three innings on Tuesday night at Center Hill in a 7-2 victory. A scoreless game moved into the top of the third when Murphy walked before giving way to courtesy runner, Alexis Jones. Jones moved up when Hall cranked a single, and Jones came around with the game's first run when Morquecho delivered a clutch two-out RBI single to left field. Marion added a second run in the fourth when senior Kelsey Baker was hit by a pitch before stealing second and third base. Eppes delivered Baker to the plate by hitting a sacrifice fly for a 2-0 Marion advantage. Southaven got one back in the bottom of the fourth, but Marion went back to work in the top of the fifth when Eppes drove in Hitchman with a double, and when Holder chased in Baker and Eppes on an error, the Patriot lead was 5-1. Shinabery added an exclamation point on Marion's night when she obliterated a pitch into deep left field for a solo home run, and Holder capped the scoring when she delivered Hitchman with a sac fly in the top of the seventh. Morquecho recorded two of Marion's six hits at Center Hill, while Shinabery, Baker, Eppes, and Hall each came up with one apiece. Eppes doubled and drove in two runs, while Baker and Hitchman each scored twice. Marion drew five walks in the contest, including two by Murphy. Murphy picked up the win inside the circle by working six strong innings, allowing only five hits with three strikeouts, and two runs, only one of which was earned. Hitchman worked a perfect seventh while logging a pair of strikeouts. Marion hosts Senatobia, Mississippi on Thursday with the varsity game starting at 4:30 p.m.