No. 13 Indians sweep No. 4 Pearl River in thrilling fashion

FULTON, Miss. – Two nationally ranked squads went head-to-head Saturday in a crucial MACJC doubleheader as No. 13 Itawamba Community College hosted No. 4 Pearl River Community College.

Neither game could be won in regulation, but the Indians won game one, 4-3 in 10-innings on a wild pitch, and game two 7-6 on a walk-off home run in the ninth inning to earn the sweep.

Game 1: Indians 4, Pearl River 3 (10-innings)

Two of the best in the conference went head-to-head as ICC's Houston Harding (Walls) and Pearl River's Shemar Page got the start, and both came in with ERAs under one.

Harding went eight innings and struck out 12 while Page struck out 11 in seven innings of work. However, neither would get the decision as the game remained tied at three when the bullpens took over.

In the bottom of the tenth, the Indians (18-3-1, 5-1 MACJC) broke the tie as LaBryant Siddell (Belden) scored the game-winning run on a wild pitch.

The Indians trailed 2-0 in the third but took the lead, scoring three runs in the bottom of the frame on RBI singles by Siddell and Austin Powell (Star City, Ark.), and a bases loaded walk by Lane Domino (Fulton) scored the go-ahead run.

Pearl River tied the game in the sixth on run-scoring single.

Kyle Crigger (Corinth) picked up the win, striking out two in two innings of work.

Game 2: Indians 7, Pearl River 6 (9-innings)

The Indians fell behind, 6-2, and were down to their final three outs when they rallied to score four runs to force extra innings and ultimately get the win on a walk-off solo home run by Justin Medlin (Ripley).

After leading 2-1, the Indians lost the lead in the third on a two-run home run by Pearl River and then gave up a pair of runs in the fifth and one in the sixth.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Indians had a pair of walks and a double to load the bases. Medlin then ripped a double to score two runs, and Domino tied the game with a single that plated two more runs.

Medlin crushed the first pitch he saw in the ninth to get the walk-off winner and give the Indians the sweep.

Crigger earned his second win on the day throwing the final two innings striking out three and held Pearl River hitless.

The Indians will host Holmes Community College in another big conference doubleheader with first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m., Wednesday, in Fulton.

For more information on ICC Baseball, follow ICC Athletics on Twitter (@LetsGoICC).