MOORHEAD, MS - The Indians split a non-conference doubleheader at Mississippi Delta.
Game 1: Trojans 7, Indians 6
The Indians fought hard but fell to Mississippi Delta Community College 7-6 in a nail-biting finish on Friday. The game was tied at six in the bottom of the seventh when Mississippi Delta managed a walk-off single to edge out the victory, but not without controversy. Brayden Billingsley struck out the first batter of the inning ... or so he thought. Delta's coach appealed that the Indians had called timeout before the pitch. The umpires met and ruled no timeout was called. Delta's coach argued with the umpires and convinced them to overturn their decision. Now with no outs in the inning, the batter draws a walk and is replaced on the bases by a pinch runner, who promptly steals second and takes third on an error before tying the game on a sacrifice fly. The Trojans load the bases after a pair of one-out walks and a single before picking up the win on a walk-off single.
Mississippi Delta took an early lead in the first inning, but the Indians responded quickly in the second. Nathan Ferris delivered a clutch RBI single to tie the game at three. After Mississippi Delta briefly pulled ahead in the fifth, the Indians answered again in the sixth, tying things up with a sacrifice fly by Reid Kent and a passed ball.
In the seventh, Itawamba took the lead for the first time when Madden Butler roped a double to bring home a run, putting the Indians ahead 6-5. However, Mississippi Delta managed to score twice in the bottom of the inning to take the win.
Brock Ware struck out seven over four and two-thirds innings. Billingsley battled through one and two-thirds innings in relief, allowing just two hits while striking out one. Ferris and Hank Stalnaker led the offense, each driving in two runs, while Houston Green, Jude Treadaway, Ferris, Stalnaker, and Butler each collected a hit.
Game 2: Indians 13, Trojans 5
The Indians delivered an explosive performance, defeating Mississippi Delta 13-5 in the nightcap.
The Indians came out firing, putting up two early runs in the first and a massive five-run second inning that put them in complete control.
Jude Treadaway, Evan McCarthy, and Madden Butler all came through with RBI singles in the second, pushing the lead to 7-0. Hank Stalnaker added an RBI single in the third, stretching the advantage to 8-0. Mississippi Delta attempted a comeback in the fifth with a three-run homer, but the Indians never let up.
Will Lipscomb secured the win on the mound, allowing just three runs over five strong innings. Andrew Williams and Lipscomb combined for six strikeouts. The Indians racked up 13 hits, with Reid Kent, Jarrett Morris, and Stalnaker each collecting two. McCarthy and Bryson Jackson each drove in two runs, and Bryce Glenn led the team with two walks.
