Fulton, Miss. – In a NJCAA Division II Top-10 battle, the No. 9 Indians split a doubleheader with No. 8 Southeastern, losing game one 8-5 and winning game two 8-7.
Game 1: No. 8 Southeastern 8, No. 9 Indians 5
The Indians (10-4) trailed 5-0 after a big third frame for the Blackhawks but Lane Domino (Fulton) pulled the Tribe back into the game with a pair of home runs. Domino's first home run was a solo shot to left in the fourth, followed by a three-run homer to left in the fifth.
After five innings, the Indians trailed 6-4 but they were able to manufacture a run in the sixth as Bailey Allbritton ( Duck Hill) scored on a ground out after reaching on an error.
The Indians would struggle to find the strike zone in the seventh, walking the bases loaded and allowing Southeastern to push across a pair of runs and pick up the victory.
Game 2: No. 9 Indians 8, No. 8 Southeastern 7
The Indians struck first in game two with Domino hitting a one-out single in the opening frame and later scoring after an error on a pickoff attempt and wild pitch that left the stadium. However, the slim 1-0 lead wouldn't hold as Southeastern scored five runs in the third on a grand slam and a solo home run.
Trailing 5-1, the Indians answered with four runs in the bottom half of the third to tie the game at five. Brett Coker (Hendersonville, Tenn.) drove in the first run with a single passed a diving third baseman and Allbritton followed with a two-run scoring single to right field. Coker rounded out the scoring when he tied the game by scoring on a ground out.
Southeastern regained the lead with two runs in the top of the fourth on a two-run triple, putting the Indians behind 7-5.
After Domino scored on a ground out in the fifth, the Indians played small ball and took advantage of an error to take the lead. Connar Gardner (Olive Branch) laid down a bunt after a pair of walks to lead off the inning but reached base on a throwing error by the pitcher. Payton Springfield (Steens) scored on the error and tied the game at 7-7.
A sacrifice fly to left by Ben Fryar scored Allen Hall (Toccopola) to give the Indians the 8-7 lead.
With the tying run on second, the Indians had a pitch get away but Gardner found the ball and caught the runner trying to take third to clinch the victory and the split.
Next up for the Indians will be Snead State, who are scheduled to come to Fulton, Tuesday for a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.
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