Indians Roll Past Northeast in Booneville

BOONEVILLE, Miss. - The Indians swept Northeast on Tuesday, beating the Tigers 15-11 in Game 1 and 7-3 in Game 2.

ICC scored 22 runs across the doubleheader and got key production from Reid Kent, Tyler Pickens, Will Caviness and the middle of the order. The Indians also got wins from Jack Howell and Andrew Williams, while Houston Green and Riley Caygle closed the door on the Tigers' hopes of a rally in both games.

"It all starts on the mound," said Coach Slater Lott. "Howell was back to form and gave us a really good outing and Houston filled up the zone in relief in Game 1. Andy and Caygle were pounding the zone in Game 2 too."

Game 1: Indians 15, Northeast 11

ICC scored first in the opening inning when Kent singled home a run.

The Indians added three more in the second. Jack Cummings brought in one with a sacrifice fly, Pickens added an RBI single and Brody Thompson followed with an RBI single down the left field line.

ICC put up four more runs in the third to build an 8-0 lead. Cummings drove in a run and Kent delivered another RBI single during the inning.

Northeast got back into the game late, including a three-run home run in the seventh, but ICC answered in the ninth.

Kent doubled home a run in the top of the ninth, Madden Butler hit a two-run home run to center and Tre Gunn added a solo home run to left to extend the lead.

Kent led ICC with four RBIs on four hits. He singled home one run in the first, drove in three more in the third and added an RBI double in the ninth.

Howell earned the win. He allowed two runs, one earned, on four hits in five innings, struck out seven and walked two. Green grabbed his second save of the season after giving up two runs on two hits with three strikeouts and no walks in 1.2 innings of work. 

Game 2: Indians 7, Northeast 3

ICC opened the scoring in the second when Daniel Whitfield singled in a run.

Northeast answered in the bottom of the inning with a two-run home run to take a 2-1 lead, then added another run in the third on an RBI double for a 3-1 advantage.

ICC took control in the fifth.

Kent hit a solo home run to center to cut the deficit to one. Later in the inning, Caviness doubled home two runs to put the Indians in front 4-3.

Pickens added insurance in the seventh with a two-run home run to center.

Williams got the win after allowing three runs on two hits in four innings. He struck out eight and walked five.

Caygle threw the final three innings and did not allow a run or a hit. He struck out two and walked three.

"I was really proud of our group today," said Coach Lott. "If you were at the park you felt, saw and heard the energy we played with."It was probably our most complete date yet in conference play. Strikes on the mound, solid defense and the offense continued to love on the barrel. I'm really proud of our team and coaches."

Up next, the Indians will travel to Decatur to take on No. 2 East Central on Saturday.