COLUMBIA, Tenn. – A gutsy performance by freshman pitcher Houston Harding helped the Indians sweep Columbia State (Tenn.) Community College with a 3-2 win in Game 2 on Tuesday.
Russell Bunch (Saltillo) hit a two-run to give the Indians (6-0) a 2-0 lead in the top of the second, but the Chargers (5-6-1) answered with a run in the bottom of the fourth to make it a one-run contest.
ICC loaded the bases with no outs after a single by Connor Lewis (Corinth) before Jackson Lancaster (Corinth) was hit by a pitch and Cason Milliorn (Olive Branch) reached on an error to start the sixth inning. Lewis scored when Drew Thomas (Nesbit) was hit by a pitch, but that was the only run the Indians could manufacture after three-straight strikeouts ended the threat.
Trailing 3-2, Columbia State put the tying run on third with one out after a throwing error by the Indians. Sam Harrington (Mooreville) closed the door on the Chargers' rally with a pair of routine fly balls to the outfield.
Harrington picked up his second save of the season after giving up one run on two hits in one inning of work.
Bunch, Lewis, Lancaster, Drake Wallace (Amory), and Jacob Hall (Petal) each had a hit in the win.
Harding (Walls) picked up the win with an impressive performance to improve to 2-0 on the year. The freshman allowed one run on one hit while walking one and striking out a career-high nine batters in 6.0 innings of work – including striking out back-to-back batters with the tying run scoring position to get out the fourth and sixth innings.
The Indians are scheduled to host Lake Land (Ill.) College on Friday – weather pending.
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