FULTON - The MACJC Champion and No. 2 ranked Indians are playing host the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament and closed out the opening day with an 8-7 win over Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Gulf Coast drew first blood scoring one run in the opening frame off of one hit, a walk and a hit batter, but the Indians quickly took the contest in the bottom half of the inning. Jackson Lancaster (Corinth) tied the game by scoring on a wild pitch and Brett Coker (Hendersonville, Tenn.) ripped a single to score LaBryant Siddell (Belden) to put the Indians up 2-1.
Lancaster would push the Indians lead to 5-1 in the second with a three run opposite field home run, but the Bulldogs answered with a run of their own in the top half of the third.
The Indians (40-6-1) would hold the three run advantage until Austin Powell (Star City, Ark.) singled to plate a pair of runs. However, the 7-2 lead wouldn't hold for long as the Bulldog scored five in the top of the sixth to tie the contest.
Kyle Crigger (Corinth) ripped a one out double in the bottom of the frame and Siddell singled up the middle to score Crigger and put the Indians up 8-7.
Lancaster, who entered to pitch in the sixth, held the Bulldogs to only one hit in the next three innings to secure the victory for the Indians.
The Indians will face No. 1 LSU Eunice, who defeats Northwest 8-6 in the first game of the tournament, in a winner's bracket game at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on LetsGoICCTV.com/blue
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