FULTON, Miss. – The No. 18 Indians improved to 5-1 in conference play as they swept Hinds Saturday, winning game one 11-3 in five innings and game two 4-0.
Game 1: Indians 11, Hinds 3 (5-innings)
Hinds scored three runs in the top of the second to take a 3-1 lead, but the Indians answered with five runs in the bottom of the frame to regain the lead.
The Indians tied the game at 3-3 as Mattie Meine (Olive Branch) reached on an error to score a run and a bases loaded walk by Rachel Sternisha (Olive Branch).
Samantha Conley (Mandeville, La) singled to score the go ahead run and Summer Cryder (Tupelo) hit a sacrifice fly to add to the lead. Sternisha scored the final run of the inning by stealing home on a double steal.
Maggie Smithey (New Albany) hit a two run single, followed by a RBI double by Jessica Davis (Cumberland) to extend the Indians lead to 9-3 after three innings.
Kacey Carpenter (Grenada) singled home a run in the fourth to stretch the lead to seven, 10-3.
The Indians ended the game in walk-off fashion in the fifth, sort of. Hope Harbin (Columbus) led off the frame and laid down a bunt and beat the throw for a single. However, the throw to first was high and went to the right field corner allowing Harbin to score on the play and end the game.
Olivia Burns (Grenada) picked up the win and improved to 9-3 this season as she threw five innings and struck out six while allowing only three hits.
Game 2: Indians 4, Hinds 0
After two scoreless innings, the Indians struck first scoring three runs in the third as Sternisha hit a RBI single, scores on a Cryder sacrifice fly and a run scoring as Conley reached on a fielder's choice.
Meine extended the lead to 4-0 on a sacrifice fly in the sixth.
Kaylee Nelson (Moulton, Ala.) threw a complete game two hitter and struck out five to pick up the win and improve to 2-2 this season.
The Indians will host Northwest Mississippi Community College Tuesday for a conference doubleheader. The twin bill is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. and is the Indians' Ovarian Cancer Awareness Series.
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