Saturday Deja Vu as the Indians Earn Identical Split with Bevill State

FULTON, Miss. – Baseball can be cruel with its sense of humor, and Saturday proved it. In a twist that felt like the sport winking at everybody in the park, the scores were identical to Friday in Fayette. ICC run-ruled Bevill State 14-4 in five innings in Game 1, then watched the Bears escape again in Game 2, 9-8.

Game 1: ICC 14, Bevill State 4 (5 innings)

Connor Graham stayed in the middle of everything, finishing with three hits as the Indians turned one early punch from Bevill into an immediate avalanche.

The Bears struck first in the top of the first, but ICC answered with seven runs in the bottom half and never gave the game a chance to settle. Jacob Pearl scored when Houston Green worked a bases-loaded walk. Cannon Graham followed with a single to score Madden Butler, and Brody Thompson cleared the bases with a bases-loaded double that brought home Reid Kent, Green and Graham. Edward Henriquez singled and took third on a throwing error, allowing Thompson to score, then Jack Cummings drove in Henriquez with a single before Bevill finally found an out with a double play.

Bevill scratched a run back in the third, then ICC hit again in the fourth with a two-out rally that added three more. Graham singled to score Butler, then Andrew Williams lined a single to left to bring home Graham and Thompson to stretch the lead.

The Bears kept swinging, adding two in the fifth, but ICC closed the door with four in the bottom half to trigger the mercy rule. Butler doubled to score Tyler Pickens and Pearl. Butler later scored when Kent reached on an error, and Kent came home on Green's RBI single to finish it.

Jack Howell earned the win, allowing two runs, one earned, on two hits across four innings with three strikeouts and three walks.

ICC finished with 12 hits. Thompson drove in three while going 2-for-2. Butler added two hits, and Graham's three-hit day set the tone from the top.

Game 2: Bevill State 9, ICC 8

The nightcap had a different script, but the same ending. ICC trailed by five in the fifth, then nearly stole it back with one big inning.

Down late, the Indians erupted for five runs in the bottom of the sixth. Howell was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to start the push. With two outs, Tre Gunn ripped a triple over the center fielder's head to clear the bases, scoring Thompson, Graham and Howell to make it a one-run game. Gunn then scored on a balk to pull ICC even.

Bevill answered in the seventh with a two-out double that plated two runs to take a 9-7 lead into the bottom of the inning.

ICC still had a chance. Kent opened the seventh with a double to left and Daniel Whitfield came on to run. Graham smashed a double off the wall to score Whitfield and bring the tying run into scoring position, but the Bears escaped with the 9-8 win, leaving the Indians with the tying run stranded at second.

Graham and Kent had two hits each in the loss.

Up next, the Indians return home Tuesday for a nine-inning game against Dyersburg State (Tenn.). The Guaranty Bank opening pitch is set for 1 p.m. at home in Fulton.