No. 10 Indians beat Pearl River to win the MACJC Championship

MAGEE, Miss. – The Indians captured their first MACJC Softball Tournament Championship with an 8-0 win over Pearl River in five innings at the Magee Sportsplex on Monday.

Maggie Smithey (New Albany) blistered a single past the first baseman to plate Macey Cox (Troy, Tenn.) in the bottom of the fifth inning to help lift the No. 10 Indians to the run-rule victory.

Smithey was 2-for-2 with a walk, three RBI, and a pair of singles.

The Indians (36-12-1) score a pair of runs in the bottom second when Summer Cryder (Tupelo) and Cox on a single by Smithey.

ICC extended its lead in the third when Hope Harbin (Columbus) singled and scored on sacrifice fly by Rachel Sternisha (Olive Branch). Mattie Meine (Olive Branch) singled and stole second before scoring on a ground out by Samantha Conley (Mandeville, La.) to give the Indians a 4-0 lead.

The Indians scored four runs in the fifth inning to invoke the mercy rule. Meine drew a walk and scored when Cryder reaches on an error. Sternisha walked and scored on a throwing error when Cryder stole second. Cryder scored on a single by Cox, who advanced to second on an error in the outfield. Cox scored on a single to right by Smithey that sent the Indians storming onto the field to celebrate the championship.

Cox went 2-for-2 with a walk, two runs scored, and a RBI. Meine and Harbin each added a single to round out the Indians' six-hit performance.

Pearl River (27-20) loaded the in the top of second and fourth innings back a pair of strikeouts from Olivia Burns (Grenada) got the Indians out of the jam in both innings.

Burns (23-4) scattered seven hits and struck out four while walking two batters in the shutout.

VIDEO: Burns, Cox, and Coach Kirk talks about winning the MACJC championship

ICC will advance to the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament hosted by Pearl River on Wednesday. The Indians will take on Co-Lin (30-15) in the opening round of the tournament. No. 1 LSU-Eunice (44-6) and Pearl River will join the Indians and Wolves in the tournament.

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