Indians Walk Off No. 4 Jones, Twice
Itawamba Community College picked up a sweep of No. 4 Jones on Saturday, winning Game 1 11-10 and Game 2 4-3.
FULTON, Miss. - Itawamba Community College picked up a sweep of No. 4 Jones on Saturday, winning Game 1 11-10 and Game 2 4-3.
The day belonged to Brody Thompson in the opener and Solomon Smith in the nightcap. Thompson hit four home runs, including the walk-off shot in the bottom of the ninth, as ICC set a modern-day program record with seven home runs in Game 1. In Game 2, Smith went the distance for his first complete game in six starts and just the third complete game by the team this season.
Game 1: Indians 11, No. 4 Jones 10
Jones scored first in the opening inning, but ICC answered in the bottom half when Will Caviness drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game at 1-1.
The Bobcats moved back in front in the third on a two-run home run, then Thompson answered with a solo shot to right in the bottom of the inning to cut the deficit to 3-2.
Jones pushed the lead to 6-2 before ICC answered in the fourth. Daniel Whitfield grounded out to score Tyler Pickens, then Thompson hit his second home run of the game, a two-run shot to center, to trim the deficit to 6-5.
Tre Gunn tied the game in the fifth with a solo home run to left.
ICC took the lead in the sixth when Thompson hit his third home run of the day, this time to left, and Cannon Graham followed with a solo home run to right to make it 8-6.
Jones tied the game again in the seventh, but ICC went back in front in the eighth when Reid Kent hit a solo home run to left for a 9-8 lead.
The Bobcats answered again in the ninth with two home runs to take a 10-9 lead.
ICC still had one more response.
Bryson Jackson double and Andrew Williams entered to run and got to third on a passed ball before scoring the tying run on another passed ball. With the game even at 10, Thompson ended it with his fourth home run of the afternoon, a walk-off solo shot to left.
Thompson's four-homer game set ICC's modern-day record for home runs in a single game.
Houston Green earned the win in relief after allowing three earned runs on three hits in 1.1 innings.
Game 2: Indians 4, No. 4 Jones 3
Jones took a 2-0 lead in the third on a groundout and an RBI single.
ICC answered in the fifth and took the lead on one swing. After Kent and Madden Butler reached, Graham hit a three-run home run to left to put the Indians in front 3-2.
Jones tied the game in the seventh on a sacrifice fly, but ICC answered in the bottom half.
Kent came around to score on Butler's double to left, giving the Indians the 4-3 win.
Smith went the distance for ICC. He allowed three runs on seven hits, struck out three and walked one. It was his first complete game in six starts and the third complete game by the team this season.
The bottom of the order also played a key role in the win. Jack Cummings, Whitfield and Jackson combined for four of ICC's six hits. Jackson's production stood out with five hits across the doubleheader in his first action in seven games.
ICC closes the regular season Wednesday at Gulf Coast.
