Fifth inning rally lifts ICC to comeback win over EMCC
Adam Gore/LetsGoICC.com
FULTON, MS – Trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the fifth, ICC would go on to score five runs to take a 7-4 comeback victory over East Mississippi on rainy Saturday in Fulton.
The late comeback by the Lady Indians (14-6, 6-1 MACJC North) was led by Haley Moore (Booneville) with a clutch bases-clearing double to right-center to take a 4-3 lead over the Lady Lions (8-13, 6-5 MACJC North) in the bottom of the fifth.
Moore would score on a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt by Arriann Henry (Ecru) and Courtney Roberts (Hatley) added another insurance run to give ICC a 6-3 lead before East Mississippi could get out of the inning.
The Lady Lions got a run back in the top of the sixth when Pepper Baker bounced a triple down the right field line and came around to score on a two-single by Emily Patrick, but the Lady Indians answered in the bottom half on the inning when Katelynn Downey (Liberty, MO) doubled and scored on a two-out single by Laken Shankle (Bruce).
Cara Hopper (Caledonia) got a three up, three down top of the seventh inning with help from catcher Autumn Bonner (Fayette, AL), who gunned down an EMCC runner dead-to-rights on a steal attempt. Hopper notched her second save of the season and become the all-time saves leader with her eighth career save to secure the Lady Indians' 7-4 victory.
Hannah Johnson (Branson, MO) gave up one unearned run and struck out two batters in five innings of work to improve to 9-1 on the season.
Shankle led the Lady Indians' offensive attack going three-for-three with one run score and another driven in while Roberts went two-for-three with a pair of runs scored on the afternoon.
Game 2 of the series was postponed due to playing conditions worsening and more rain moving into the area – no make-up date or time has been set for the second game of the series.
ICC is schedule to travel to Northwest Mississippi Community College on Monday for a North Division twin bill that has been rescheduled five times this season due Mother Nature's homestead in the North Mississippi area for the month of March.
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