No. 9 Indians knock of No. 1 Jones County, 2-1
Adam Gore/LetsGoICC.com
FULTON, MS – A two-out, two-run double by Mamie Hollenhead (Mathiston) in the bottom of the third not only gave the No. 9 Indians a 2-1 win over No. 1 Jones County Junior College, but also clinched a home series in the opening round of the playoffs in two weeks.
The Indians (32-10-1, 19-5 MACJC) snapped a six-game losing streak to the Bobcats (38-2, 22-2 MACJC) in the nightcap.
Mary Kansas Sullivan (Houston) singled and was replaced on the bases by Cori Childs (New Site) and advanced to third on a two-out single by Meg Sullivan (Springville, AL). Hollenhead roped her fourth hit of the day to the gap in right to push across Childs and Meg Sullivan to give the Indians the 2-0 lead.
Jones County loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the fourth before Caroline Dickins (Batesville) got a pop out to Maura Jane Autry (Holly Springs) in center, her fourth strikeout of the game, and another fly out to center to escape the inning with no damage done.
The Bobcats cut the Indians lead in half with a double by Kelly Byrd to plate Kelsha Loftin, who reached on a one-out single in the top of the fifth inning. Mary Kansas Sullivan singled to start the bottom half of the inning, but her courtesy runner was erased on a bang-bang play at second for a three up, three down inning for the Indians.
ICC went to the bullpen and brought in Carleigh Mills (Corinth) in hopes to close the door on the Bobcats. She got a three up, three down inning with a strikeout in the top of the sixth and got a great play up the middle by Madison Carnes (Ecru) to record the final out of the game with the tying run on first.
The save was the first of the season for Mills.
Dickins improved to 10-3 on the season after giving up one earned run on five hits and three walks while striking out four of 25 batters faced.
Mary Kansas Sullivan led the Indians with two hits. Meg Sullivan and McKenzie Piper (Pell City, AL) each added a single with Hollenhead doubling to total the Indians five hits in the game.
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