Indians take No. 1 LSU-Eunice to the limit in Region Tournament

EUNICE, La. - The Itawamba Community College baseball team took No. 1 LSU-Eunice to the limit in the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament Thursday, but the Bengals produced a run in the eleventh to pick up the 5-4 extra-inning victory.

 

The Indians (33-16) fell behind early as the Bengals scored two runs in the second and added another in the fourth to take a 3-0 lead, but they would see their lead disappear in the bottom of the fourth. Drake Wallace (Amory) drove in the first run for the Indians by reaching on a fielder's choice that allowed Drew Thomas (Nesbit), who was hit by a pitch, to score from third.

 

After another hit-by-pitch to load the bases, Connor Lewis (Corinth) scored on a passed ball to cut the lead to 3-2, and the Indians were able to tie the game when Kyle Crigger (Corinth) reached on an error at third that scored Wallace.

 

The Bengals would take a one run advantage in the seventh on a RBI single, but the Indians answered in the eighth with timely two-out hitting by Russell Bunch (Saltillo), and Crigger tied the game at four.

 

Both teams were retired in order in the ninth to send the game to extra innings, and in the eleventh the Bengals got a big two-out single to take a 5-4 lead. Crigger gave the Indians a chance to tie the game with a leadoff double, but the Bengals were able to get out of the jam to pick up the 5-4 extra inning victory.

 

Hunter Nabors (Montevallo, Ala.) and Crigger combined for six of the Indians' 11 hits as they both went 3-for-6, and Bunch reached base four times with two hits and twice hit by pitches. 

 

Hunter Hughes (Saltillo) threw six and two-thirds innings and struck out eight but picked up a no-decision. Crigger was hit with the tough-luck loss after throwing four and a third innings,allowing one run on two hits while striking out three.

 

The Indians will face No. 18 Mississippi Gulf Coast Friday at noon in an elimination game that will be streamed live on LetsGoICCTV.com/RED