FULTON, Miss. – The Indians got some timely hits and saw three pitchers combine for a three-hitter to earn a 2-1 win over Northeast Mississippi Community College to open MACJC play with a sweep of their rivals on Friday.
The Tigers (6-5, 0-2 MACJC) would strike first after Austyn Holden started the second inning with a single and stole second to move into scoring position. Leah Jones smashed a double down the third base line to score Holden and give Northeast the 1-0 lead.
The Indians (11-3, 2-0 MACJC) answered in the bottom half of the second when Bailie Springfield (Mantee) was hit by a pitch to start the inning and moved to second on a single by Macey Cox (Troy, Tenn.) Both Springfield and Cox advance on a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt by Olivia Burns (Grenada). Hannah Williams (Philadelphia) lifted a deep fly ball to center field to plate Springfield from third to tie the game, 1-1, after two innings of play.
Cox went 2-for-2 with a walk, double and run scored.
Newsom singled to start the bottom of the fourth and was replaced on the bases by Lilli Moore (Fulton). Moore scored from first on a double off the fence by Cox and the Indians took a 2-1 lead after four innings of play.
Northeast put the tying run on first in the fifth and in scoring position in the sixth, but the Indians would get out of trouble both inning before getting a three up, three down seventh from Springfield to secure the sweep.
Burns (5-2) picked up the win after giving up one run on three hits and two walks to go along with five strikeouts in 4.0 innings of work. Cox threw two innings of hitless and scoreless action, striking out one and walking another. Springfield picked up her first save of the year striking out one in one inning.
ICC will stay inside conference play as they travel to Raymond to take on Hinds Community College on Saturday. The game will be available on hindsccsports.net/Channel_1 starting at 2:00 p.m.
For more information on ICC softball, follow the Indians on Twitter (@LetsGoICC).