No. 10 Indians pick up a pair of wins at Snead State

BOAZ, Ala. - The No. 10 Indians swept a doubleheader at Snead State (Ala.) Community College on Saturday. The Indians (9-5) won the first game 8-1 and won the second game 9-3 in six innings when the game was called due to darkness.

Game 1: No. 10 Indians 8, Snead State 1

The Indians scored four runs in the top of the first and added a pair of runs in the second and fourth innings to cruise to an 8-1 victory in game one. Olivia Burns (Grenada) pitched a complete game and allowed only three hits and one earned run while striking out seven batters to improve to 4-2 on the season.

ICC got things going in the top of the first when Rachel Sternisha (Olive Branch) walked and advanced to third on a double by Samantha Conley (Mandeville, La.) before Summer Cryder (Tupelo) drew a five-pitch walk to load the bases with one out in the inning. Sternisha and Conley scored on a single by Macey Cox (Troy, Tenn.) to give the Indians a 2-0 advantage. Cryder scored on a sacrifice bunt by Joanna Vasquez (Southaven) before Ellie Meine (Olive Branch) drove in Cox on a clutch two-out single.

The Indians added a pair of runs in the second when Mattie Meine (Olive Branch) doubled and scored on a single by Conley. Sternisha singled, stole second and advance to third on Conley's single before scoring when Conley was thrown out trying to steal second to give the Indians a 6-0 edge before heading to the bottom of the second.

Cryder blasted a two-run shot to left to put the Indians up 8-0 in the fourth. Snead State (9-18) ran into a solo homer in the bottom half of fifth to avoid the run-rule loss before falling after seven innings of play.

Conley and Cox each had a pair of hits as the Indians cranked out nine hits in the win.

Game 2: No. 10 Indians 9, Snead State 3 (6 innings)

ICC struck for five runs in the top of the first inning. Mattie singled and scored on a double by Conley, who scored on a single by Cox. Makenzie Toombs (Ackerman) drew a bases-loaded walk to plate Cryder before Jessica Davis (Cumberland) roped a single to plate Cox and Ellie to put the Indians up 5-0 before the dust finally settled on the inning.

The Indians added two runs in the second when Conley was hit by a pitch and scored on a double by Cryder. Cox singled to plate Cryder to take a 7-0 advantage.

Snead State pushed across three runs in the bottom of the third to make it a 7-3 game.

The Indians answered with a two runs in the top of the sixth inning. Mattie singled and stole second before scoring on a single by Sternisha, who advanced to third on a throwing error. Conley lifted a sacrifice fly to left to score Sternisha to extend the lead to 9-3 as the sun quickly faded away in Boaz.

The Lady Parsons picked up a pair of hits in the bottom half of the inning before Kaylee Nelson (Moulton, Ala.) struck out the final batter to end the inning. After a brief discussion with both head coaches, the umpires called the game due to darkness and ICC completed the sweep with the 9-3 win.

Mary Kate Butler (Pontotoc) improved to 2-1 on the season with the win after giving up three earned runs on seven hits in 2.1 innings of work.

Mattie and Cox each had a pair of hits in the Indians' nine-hit performance.

The Indians are scheduled to be back in action on Tuesday, March 5 at Calhoun (Ala.) Community College before hosting Pearl River Community College on Friday, March 8 in their conference opener.

For more information on ICC softball, follow the Indians on Twitter (@LetsGoICC).