POPLARVILLE, Miss. – The No. 10 ICC softball team scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to pull away for a 7-0 win over Co-Lin in the opening round of the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament at Pearl River on Wednesday.
Jessica Davis (Cumberland) scored on a throwing error after Joanna Vasquez (Southaven) reached on an infield single to give the Indians (37-12-1) a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second.
ICC took a 3-0 lead in the third when Rachel Sternisha (Olive Branch) doubled and scored on a ground out by Macey Cox (Troy, Tenn.) and Summer Cryder (Tupelo) singled and scored on a single by Davis.
Cryder started the fifth with a single before Macey Cox was hit by a pitch and Davis drew a walk to load the bases. Maggie Smithey (New Albany) lifted a sacrifice fly to right to center score Cryder. Vasquez laid down a perfect squeeze bunt to score Lilli Moore (Fulton), who was running for Cox, to put the Indians up 5-0 with one out in the inning. Vasquez quickly sprinted to second and drew a throw that allowed Davis to score from third on the play. Vasquez scored on a ground out by Mattie Meine (Olive Branch) before the Wolves could get out of the inning.
Trailing 7-0, Co-Lin (30-16) put a pair of runners in scoring position in the top of the sixth, but Cryder hauled in a pop up in foul territory and made a diving stop and quick throw to first to get the Indians out of the jam.
Olivia Burns (Grenada) improved to 23-4 on the year after scattering two hits and struck out a pair of batters in the complete game shutout.
The Indians had 11 hits on the night. Sternisha had a pair of doubles while Cryder, Davis, Vasquez, and Harbin each added a pair of singles.
ICC will face No. 1 LSU-Eunice (45-6) at 2:00 p.m. in the regional semifinal game. The Bengals picked up a 7-2 win over host Pearl River (27-21) in the nightcap. The game will be available on LetsGoICCTV.com/red.
Pearl River and Co-Lin will square off in the first elimination game of the tournament at 4:00 with the winner getting the loser between ICC and Eunice at 6:00 in another elimination game.
For more information on the Indians, follow ICC Athletics on Twitter (@LetsGoICC).