No. 19 Indians earn split with Co-Lin after 5-2 win in game two

No. 19 Indians earns split with Co-Lin after 5-2 win in game two
Adam Gore/LetsGoICC.com

FULTON, MS – After dropping a 9-6 decision in the first game of the day, the No. 19 Itawamba Community College baseball team rebounded to pick up a 5-2 victory in the nightcap against Copiah-Lincoln Community College on Saturday.

The Indians (28-12, 15-9 MACJC) got on the board in the bottom of the first inning when Hagan Box (French Camp) singled up the middle and scored on a two-out double by Keith Stepter (Hernando). ICC took a 2-0 lead after two complete when Kaleb Barnes (Pontotoc) reached on an error and scored on a single by Box. 

The Wolves (18-23, 12-12 MACJC) cut the Indians' lead in half with a two-out double by CJ Estave to score Kyle Whittington, who was hit by a pitch in the top of the third inning. 

ICC got the run back in the bottom of the fourth when Box singled home Kyle Weaver (Courtland) before Co-Lin got a solo home run by Jaylyn Williams in the top of the sixth to make it a 3-2 contest in favor of ICC.

Box went 3-for-3 with two RBI and one run scored.

Hunter Nabors (Montevallo, AL) sparked the Indians with his second hit of the game. He was replaced on the bases by Weaver, who advanced into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Box. The Wolves elected to intentionally walk Tyreque Reed (Houlka) to put runners on first and second with one out in the inning. Austin Carpenter (Belmont) stepped up with a hard-hit single into right field to score Weaver to give the Indians a two-run lead. 

Nabors went 2-for-2 with a walk in the win.

After a fly ball to right field moved Reed to third, Stepter ripped a two-out single to left to push across Reed and give the Indians a 5-2 lead heading into the final frame. 

Stepter finished the game 2-for-2 with a walk, was hit by pitch, and drove in two runs. 

JT Salter (Bay Minetter, AL) retired the first two batters with a strikeout and fly ball to center to start the top of the seventh before Co-Lin got the tying run to the plate after an error and walk. Salter closed the door on the Wolves rally with his ninth strikeout of the game to preserve his fifth victory of the season.

The Indians finished the week in a three-way tie for second place in the league and will finish the regular season with home games against East Mississippi Community College (23-14, 13-10 MACJC) and Hinds Community College (26-14, 15-9 MACJC).

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