Indians score 27, hit 8 home runs in sweep of No. 24 Bulldogs

GOODMAN, MS – The Indians picked up a pair of wins over the No. 24 Holmes Bulldogs, improving to 16-10 overall and 3-3 in conference play.

Game 1: Indians 18, No. 24 Holmes 12

In a high-scoring affair with 30 total runs, the Indians came out on top, 18-12, in a marathon victory. They tied the record for second-most home runs (5) and hits (21) in a single game since 2013.

The Indians struck first in the top of the first inning when Evan McCarthy homered to right, followed by RBI singles from Reid Kent and Bryson Jackson. The offense stayed hot in the second, extending the lead to 7-0 thanks to an RBI single from Jude Treadaway and a three-run blast to left by Madden Butler. Butler added a solo home run to center in the fourth.

Holmes rallied in the sixth, taking a 12-10 lead. However, the Indians responded with a solo home run to center by Nathan Ferris and an RBI double by Stone Collier to tie the game in the seventh.

The Indians put the game out of reach with a six-run eighth inning, highlighted by a three-run home run from McCarthy.

Every player in the lineup recorded at least one hit, contributing to the Indians' 21-hit performance. Treadaway, McCarthy, Collier, Butler, and Ferris each had three hits.

Will Lipscomb earned the win, tossing 3.2 innings of relief and allowing one run on five hits while striking out three.

Game 2: Indians 9, No. 24 Holmes 5

The Indians' bats stayed hot in the nightcap. Treadaway opened the scoring with a solo home run to center in the first. Hank Stalnaker added an RBI single down the line, and another run scored on a wild pitch to give the Indians a 3-0 lead in the second.

Holmes responded with a run in the bottom of the second.

The Indians broke the game open with a six-run fifth inning. McCarthy hit a solo shot to left, Jackson followed with a two-run homer to left, Stalnaker added an RBI double, and Treadaway capped the inning with a two-run double, making it 9-1.

The Bulldogs rallied with three runs in the fifth and one in the sixth, but the Indians held on to secure the sweep on the road.

The Indians collected 12 hits, with Treadaway, Kent, Stalnaker, and Houston Green each contributing two hits.

Jud Files picked up the win after going 6.0 innings, allowing five runs on eight hits while striking out six. Ferris came on in relief in the seventh, allowing two hits and striking out two in a scoreless inning of work.