No. 14 Indians Roll Past Holmes, Marlar Matches Program Home Run Mark

GOODMAN, Miss. - No. 14 Itawamba handled business on the road Tuesday, sweeping Holmes with a 14-1 win in six innings and a 13-5 win in five innings.

The Indians used early offense, two home runs from AB Marlar and strong work in the circle to keep control of the doubleheader from start to finish. Marlar's second home run of the day was her 15th of the season, tying the single-season record held by former NJCAA All-American and ICC Athletic Hall of Famer CeCee (Austin) Cavenaugh.

"This was two big time wins for us," said Coach Carson Owens. "We clinched a Top 5 seed in our conference and solidified ourselves in the double elimination portion of our regional tournament. I am just really, really proud of our responses this year. I think every time we have been in a corner, we have responded in the way we need to. I love our group and I hope these wins continue to push us forward."

Game 1: No. 14 Indians 14, Holmes 1 (6 innings)

ICC set the tone in the first inning when Victoria Fields scored on a hard single to center by Maddie Porter, giving the Indians a 1-0 lead.

Holmes tied it in the second on a solo home run, but ICC answered in the third and never gave the Bulldogs room to settle in. Porter doubled to center to score Fields and put the Indians back in front, and Kaylin Lynch followed with a sacrifice fly to bring in Houston-Rae Grantham for a 3-1 lead.

The Indians stretched it in the fourth. Fields singled to right to score Alana Dossey, then Marlar drove a two-run home run to left to make it 6-1.

ICC added more separation in the sixth. Marlar scored on an error before Gracyn Snell singled to left to bring in Ella Duhon. Taylar Shands followed with a run-scoring single to left to push the lead to 9-1 before the Indians finished off the run-rule win.

Ramsey Montgomery earned the win for ICC, allowing one hit and one run over six innings with five strikeouts and one walk.

Game 2: No. 14 Indians 13, Holmes 5 (5 innings)

ICC did not wait around in Game 2.

The Indians scored four runs in the first inning, starting when Marlar reached on an error that brought in Dossey. Porter followed with a two-run double to score Emarie Boddie and Fields, and Duhon grounded out to bring in Marlar for a 4-0 lead.

The second inning broke the game open. Boddie doubled to left to score Snell and Dossey, Fields singled to right to bring in Boddie, and Anna Thomas Luke singled to center to score Marlar. ICC added another run later in the inning to make it 9-0.

Marlar delivered the record-tying swing in the third, driving a three-run home run to right after Boddie and Fields reached base. The homer was her 15th of the season, tying the single-season home run record and pushing the Indians' lead to 12-0.

ICC added another run in the fourth when Shands reached on an error that scored Snell.

Holmes put together a five-run fourth inning, but the Indians had already built enough separation to close out the sweep in five.

Alanee Wheeler earned the win for ICC, allowing seven hits and five runs over 3.1 innings with two strikeouts and one walk.

Up next for the Indians will be a road trip to face No. 6 Jones College.

"I think it will be a really good series to finish out the regular season," said Owens. "I think these two games will help prepare us for the postseason push we are going to make. Jones is a great group and are coached really well. We will have to play well. I think we are playing with some confidence, so hopefully we can continue to roll."