Indians split with Meridian to open conference play

FULTON, Miss. – The Indians earned the split with Meridian to open conference play on Thursday.

Game 1: Indians 11, Meridian 5

A six-run fourth inning was a catalyst in the Indians' 11-5 game one win over Meridian to open conference play.

ICC struck first in the second inning when Chloe McClain doubled and scored after Laklyn Nichols reached base on an error followed by an RBI double by Camdyn Cooper that scored Nichols.

When Meridian took a 5-2 lead going into the bottom of the fourth, that was when the tide started to turn in favor of the Indians. Cooper singled to score Nichols; Julia Shaw doubled to score Cooper, Hallie Turner and Tamiya Martin; Riley Tyree doubled to score Shaw; and Chloe Shelton hit a sacrifice fly to score Tyree.

ICC added three more runs in the contest when Turner hit a single and scored when Tyree reached base on an error in the fifth inning, and Cooper tripled to score McClain while Turner singled to score Cooper.

Turner finished game one going four-for-five at the plate while Cooper went three-for-four and recorded three RBIs.

Shaw earned the win on the mound for the Indians as she gave up five runs on nine hits while striking out eight batters.

Game 2: Meridian 9, Indians 2

Despite having eight hits in game two, it wasn't enough as the Indians fell to Meridian, 9-2.

The Eagles got on the board first in the top of the first inning after scoring three runs, followed by an answer from the Indians when Chloe McClain hit a solo home run. The second run for the Indians came in the bottom of the fifth when Tamiya Martin singled to score Camdyn Cooper.

McClain and Riley Tyree each finished with two hits. Martin, Cooper, Hallie Turner and Laklyn Nichols each added a hit.

The Indians will be back in action on Wednesday, March 13 when they travel to Goodman for a conference doubleheader with Holmes.