Fulton, Miss. – In a pair of tight games, the No. 3 Indians were able to pick up the sweep of Holmes behind strong pitching performances and key hits Thursday.
Game 1: Indians 3, Bulldogs 0
Madison Jenkins (Cleveland) got three runs for the offense but only needed one as she held the Bulldogs to only two hits while throwing the complete game to pick up tenth win this season.
A RBI single by Emily Robinson (Springville, Ala.) in the second innings put the Indians up 1-0, and a Katie Rutledge (Mancheter, Tenn.) solo home run in the third extend the lead to 2-0.
Robinson picked up her second RBI of the day in the sixth off with another single.
Game 2: Indians 5, Bulldogs 3
The Bulldogs jumped out to an early lead scoring three runs in the opening inning, but the Indians rallied to pick up the 5-3 decision.
After allowing three runs in the first, the Indians were able to hold the Bulldogs scoreless for the remainder of the contest as Ka'Mya Hampton (Pinson, Ala.) and Robinson had big performances out of the bullpen throwing five scoreless innings.
The Indians began to chip away at the early Holmes lead immediately as they plated a run in the bottom of the first on a sacrifice fly by Jenkins.
Kara Hays (Mooreville) singled home a run in the third and Hannah Henry (Brandon) and Ivy Watts (Tupelo) executed a squeeze play perfectly to tie the game at 3-3 in the fourth.
The Indians picked up the lead and game winning runs in the fifth off a McKenzie Patterson (Corinth) run scoring double and the Indians plating a run on a double steal with runners at the corners.
Robinson closed out the game in the circle to pick up her seventh win this season and give the Indians the sweep.
The No. 3 Indians (27-5, 19-3 MACCC) will host No. 2 Gulf Coast (22-8, 18-2 MACCC) Sunday for a doubleheader that could determine first place in the conference and will defiantly have an impact on postseason play. First pitch of the crucial doubleheader is scheduled for noon and will be available on LetsGoICCTV.com/red
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