Porter, Marlar Go Deep as No. 12 Indians Roll Past Marion Military

GARDENDALE, Ala. - The No. 12 Indians saved its loudest punch for last.

Maddie Porter drove in four runs on two hits as the Indians closed the JUCO Turf Wars with an 11-2 run-rule win over Marion Military Institute, jumping out early with back-to-back homers and then blowing the game open with an eight-run fourth.

The Indians set the tone in the bottom of the first. Porter lifted a two-run homer to left, and AB Marlar followed with a solo shot to the same side to make it 3-0 before Marion could settle in.

The game stayed in ICC's control until the fourth, when the Indians turned it into a sprint to the finish. Kaylin Lynch started the damage with an RBI single to score Morgan Green. Victoria Fields wore a bases-loaded hit by pitch to force in another run. Skylar Partlow followed with a single that brought home Neely Hodum. Then Porter ripped a double to drive in Fields and Alana Dossey, and Marlar kept the line moving with an RBI single to score Partlow. Porter later scored on a throwing error, and Houston-Rae Grantham tagged up and scored on Anna Thomas Luke's sacrifice fly as the inning piled up eight runs and pushed the lead into run-rule range.

Marion scratched across two in the fifth to try to extend the game, but Ramsey Montgomery shut the rally down quickly. She struck out the final hitter to end it in five, finishing with nine strikeouts while allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits and three walks.

Porter and Marlar each finished with two hits as ICC totaled nine hits in the win.

Up next, the Indians return home Thursday to host Bevill State. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. at Andy Kirk Field.