No. 10 Indians split with Jackson State in home opener

No. 10 Indians split with Jackson State in home opener

FULTON, Miss. – The No. 10 Indians overcame a sluggish afternoon at the ballpark to earn a split with Jackson State (Tenn.) Community College in their home opener after rebounding from a 5-2 Game 1 loss with a 2-1 win in walk-off fashion in the nightcap.

Game 1: Jackson State 5, No. 10 Indians 2

The Indians (3-1) took a 1-0 lead when Rachel Sternisha (Olive Branch) tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Mattie Meine (Olive Branch) in the bottom of the third inning. The Green Jays (2-4) answered with three runs in the fourth.

Macey Cox (Troy, Tenn.) singled and advanced to second on an infield single by Ellie Meine (Olive Branch) before scoring when Sternisha reached on an error to make it a 3-2 contest after four complete. Jackson State added a pair of runs in the fifth to take a 5-2 advantage.

Jackson State threw a runner out trying to score from second on a single to right field by Summer Cryder (Tupelo) in the bottom of the seventh before getting a ground out to third to secure the three-run victory.

Ellie and Mattie Meine combine for four of the Indians' nine hits in the game. Ellie was 2-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base. Mattie went 2-for-3 with a double and a RBI.

Olivia Burns (Grenada) was the pitcher of record after giving up five runs, only two earned, on four hits while striking out eight in five innings of work.

Game 2: No. 10 Indians 2, Jackson State 1

Joanna Vasquez (Southaven) delivered a two-out double to the gap in left to score Mattie Meine to help the Indians earn a split with Jackson State with a 2-1 win in walk-off fashion in the bottom of the seventh.

Meine drew a four-pitch walk and stole second to help set up the late game heroics.

The Indians took a 1-0 lead when Ellie Meine scored on a sacrifice fly by Hannah Sparks (Mantachie) in the fifth inning. The Green Jays took advantage of an error to tie the game in the top of the sixth.

Mary Kate Butler (Pontotoc) picked up the win after replacing Kaylee Nelson (Moulton, Ala.) and tossing a hitless top of the seventh. Nelson gave up one unearned run on three hits with a strikeout in six innings of work.

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