FULTON, Miss. – The Indians bats were hot on a cold day in Fulton, as they scored nine runs in both games to earn a doubleheader sweep over Columbia State with a 9-2 win in game one and 9-3 victory in game two.
Game 1: Indians 9, Columbia State 2
Prior to first pitch, the Indians (10-1-1) received a No. 15 ranking in the first regular season NJCAA poll, but the excitement would be short lived as Columbia State hung two runs on the tribe in the top of the first.
After falling behind, the Indians answered with three runs in the bottom of the second as Brett Coker (Hendersonville, Tenn.) singled to score Jacob Hall (Petal) and Jackson Lancaster (Corinth) drew a bases loaded walk to tie the game. Lane Domino (Fulton) was hit by a pitch with bases still juiced to score the go ahead run.
Justin Medlin (Ripley) got things started in the third with a solo home run to right and Lancaster hit a bases clearing triple later in the inning that plated three runs and extended the lead to 7-2.
Hall singled in the fourth to score LaBryant Siddell (Belden) and in the sixth, Hayden Palmer (Saltillo) singled to score Kyle Crigger (Corinth) for the final run of the game.
Houston Harding (Walls) threw five innings and struck out seven to improve to 4-0 this season, while Pate Phillips (Saltillo) and Jonathan Weeks (Pontotoc) threw an inning each to close out the game.
Game 2: Indians 9, Columbia State 3
After a scoreless first inning, the scored three runs in the second as Palmer and Lancaster had RBI singles and Medlin scored on an error by Columbia State.
Medlin then doubled in the third in the score Crigger and extend the lead to 4-0.
In the accounted for three runs in the fourth as he picked up a pair of RBI on a triple and then scored on a wild pitch to put the Indians up 7-0.
Braden Ellis (Saltillo) doubled in the fifth to score Medlin and Palmer and extend the lead to 9-0.
Columbia State didn't go away quietly though, as they rallied in the seventh to score three runs but Crigger came in and picked up a strikeout for the third and final out of the contest.
Austin King (Fulton) picked up the win as he threw five shutout innings and struck out eight to improve to 3-1.
The Indians will travel to Snead State (Ala.) Community College Thursday with the first pitch set for noon.
For more information on ICC Baseball, follow ICC Athletics on Twitter (@LetsGoICC).