Softball wins instant classic over East Central, 8-6
Adam Gore/LetsGoICC.com
DECATUR, MS - Mary Kansas Sullivan (Houston) had one of the biggest hits of her young career in the No. 8 Indians, 8-6, Game 1 win over No. 3 East Central Warriors on Friday.
With runners on second and third, the freshman smashed a two-out double off the fence down the left field line to push across what would turn out to be a pair of crucial runs in the top of the seventh.
Leading 8-4, the Indians saw the Warriors spark a two-out rally of their own to push across a pair of runs before Carleigh Mills (Corinth) got a ground out to Kaitlin Bradley (Columbus) to end the rally and clinch the 8-6 victory.
Sullivan went two-for-three while being hit by a pitch and drove in three runs.
ICC took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second when Addie Thompson (Hamilton) doubled and scored on a single by Sullivan and Bree Thompson (Water Valley) was hit by a pitch and scored when Maura Jane Autry (Holly Springs) reached on an error.
ECCC pushed across a run with a solo home run in the bottom half of the inning, but Alex Brown (Pontotoc) answered with a solo home run of her own to start the third inning.
The Indians took a 4-3 edge in the fifth when Brown singled and scored on a triple by Addie Thompson.
Kennedy and Brown singled before Bradley drew a walk to load the bases with no outs in the top of the seventh. Kenned scored on a single by Mamie Hollenhead (Mathiston). Brown scored when Addie Thompson drew a bases-loaded walk before Sullivan stepped up for her two-out heroics to give the Indians a crucial four-run lead heading to the bottom of the inning.
Brown went three-for-four with a solo home run, a pair of singles and three runs scored. Thompson went two-for-three with a walk, double, triple along with a pair of RBI and a run scored.
Kaitlyn McDuffy (Iuka) picked up the win after giving up three runs, all earned, after scattering five hits and two walks in four innings of work. Mills picked up her third save of the season after giving up three runs, all earned, on four hits and one walk in three innings.
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