No. 6 Indians defeat EMCC to advance to MACJC Tourney
Adam Gore/LetsGoICC.com
FULTON, MS – Freshman pitcher Caroline Dickins (Batesville) scattered six hits and gave up one earned run to help lead the No. 6 ICC softball team to a 5-1 victory over East Mississippi Community College on Saturday.
The Indians, who defeated East Mississippi 9-6 on Friday, advanced to the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) State Tournament next May 5-7 at Jones County Junior College.
ICC (38-10-1) got on the board in the top of the second inning when Bre Harford (Southaven) singled and scored on a double by Madison Carnes (Ecru) before hanging three runs on the board in the third to take a 4-0 advantage.
McKenzie Piper (Pell City, AL) drew a walk and advanced to third when Kaitlyn Rhodes (Alexandria, AL) reached on a fielder's choice. Harford ripped a two-out single by the third baseman to plate Piper before Mary Kansas Sullivan (Houston) delivered a double to push across Rhodes and Harford.
The Lions (18-27) got on the board in the bottom of the fifth when Ashley Vickers raced home before Mallory Vance was thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double to end the inning.
Up 4-1, ICC answered with a run in the top of the sixth when Cori Childs (New Site), who entered to run for Harford, scored when she beat the throw home on a successful squeeze bunt by Carnes to take a 5-1 lead into the final frame.
Harford went 2-for-2 with a walk, two runs scored, and a RBI while Dickins improved to 13-4 with the win.
ICC will face No. 7 Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (37-10) in the opening round of the MACJC State Tournament in Ellisville. The Bulldogs defeated Northeast Mississippi Community College (29-21) 3-1 and 7-5 to punch their ticket to the State Tournament. The Indians split a home doubleheader with Gulf Coast in March, winning Game 1, 5-1, before dropping the nightcap, 7-5.
In other playoff action: No. 1 Jones County (44-2) completed the sweep of Southwest Mississippi Community College (18-27) with a 12-0 win in five innings to earn the hosting duties of the tournament. No. 9 East Central Community College (42-6) won a 17-12 shootout over Northwest Mississippi Community College (22-20) to advance to Ellisville.
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