Smith homers three times as Indians split with Northwest-Shoals

MUSCLE SHOALS, Ala. – Jessi Smith had three home runs on the day as the Indians split with Northwest-Shoals on Thursday. 

Game 1: Indians 5, Northwest-Shoals 2

Smith had three hits at the plate with a two-run home run in the third inning, a triple in the first and a single in the seventh as the Indians defeated Northwest-Shoals in game one, 5-2.

ICC struck first in the top of the first inning after Hallie Turner hit a solo home run and Riley Tyree hit into a fielder's choice, allowing Smith to score.

After the Patriots scored a run in the bottom of the first, three more runs crossed home plate for the Indians in the third inning with Smith's two-run home run accompanied by an RBI single by Julia Shaw to score Bryanna Clemons.

Smith went three-for-four at the plate with two RBIs while Turner had two hits and an RBI, Tyree and Shaw each added a hit and an RBI.

Shaw was the pitcher of record as she gave up four hits and two runs in seven innings of work.

Game 2: Northwest-Shoals 13, Indians 9

Northwest-Shoals used a nine-run rally in the bottom of the sixth to pick up the game two win over the Indians, 13-9, and the split.

ICC struck first in game two when Smith hit her second home run of the day that scored Turner in the first inning.

After the Patriots responded with an RBI single, Smith hit her third home run of the day in the second inning, which scored Turner and Sammie Day-Jones, to give the Indians a 5-1 lead.

Northwest-Shoals struck back in the bottom of the second with two runs. ICC then extended their lead in the top of the fourth after Camdyn Cooper tripled and was scored by a single from Turner, then Turner scored on a sacrifice fly by Riley Tyree to make it 7-4 in favor of the Indians.

Tamiya Martin added a run to the ICC lead in the top of the fifth after scoring on a passed ball. But the momentum then turned in favor of the Patriots as they scored nine runs in the bottom half of the inning.

Turner doubled and scored on a ground out from Smith, but the Indians couldn't manufacture any more runs as they dropped game two.

Turner went three-for-four at the plate, and Smith recorded a team-best six RBIs in the contest while Turner and Tyree each added one.

The Indians will be back in action on Sunday, March 3 when they host a pair of top-15 teams in both No. 12 Des Moines Area and No. 11 Wallace State at the ICC Softball Complex.