Fulton, Miss. - Itawamba Community College picked up a big conference sweep over Northwest Wednesday.
The Indians (9-7, 3-1 MACCC) won the game one battle 8-7 in the bottom of the ninth, and took game two 5-1 behind a strong pitching performance.
Game 1: Indians 8, Rangers 7
The Indians jumped out to an early lead on a RBI single by Blaine Ware (Batesville) in the third and extended the lead to 4-0 in the fifth on a Bryce Capobianco (Saltillo) run scoring single, Matthew Martinolich (Ellisville) driving in a run on a ground ball and Eli Hancock (Houston) plating a run on a sacrifice fly.
Northwest answered in the top of the sixth with two runs, but the Indians quickly got those two runs back in the bottom of the frame on a Capobianco two-run scoring single.
In the top of the ninth the Rangers plated four runs on two hits to take a 7-6 lead, but their lead would be short-lived.
Hayes Holman (Cleveland) drew a bases loaded walk to tie the contest and a wild pitch during the next at bat allowed Drew Capobianco (Saltillo) to score the game winning run and give the Indians the 8-7 win.
Game 2: Indians 5, Rangers 1
The Indians score five runs in the first two frames of the nightcap which proved to be more than starting pitcher Roe Ketchum (West Point) needed.
Ketchum threw a complete game two hitter and struck out 12 on his way to his second win of the season. The Rangers lone run came off a solo home run in the sixth, but following the home run, Ketchum struck out four of the last five batters he faced.
The early run support came when Terris Meeks (Olive Branch), who hit a leadoff double, scored on a fielder's choice and Martinolich hitting a two run scoring single in the bottom of the first.
In the bottom of the second, Meeks hit his second double of the day and drove in a run and Riley Davis (Collierville, Tenn.) picked up his second RBI of the game on a sacrifice fly.
Next up for the Indians is their first conference road doubleheader when they travel to Raymond to ace Hinds Community College Saturday. This is only the Indians second road trip this season and first pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
