By: Dustin Kent - JCFloridan.com
The Chipola Lady Indians earned a doubleheader sweep over Gulf Coast State thanks to a pair of dramatic one-run wins Wednesday night in Panama City.
Chipola won 10-9 in nine innings in the first game and then rallied from a 7-1 deficit in the second game to win 9-8 and complete the sweep.
The wins improved the Lady Indians' Panhandle Conference record to 8-6 and moved them into sole possession of second place in the league standings ahead of Northwest Florida State at 7-7.
In the first game, Chipola overcame a sloppy start in a three-run first inning by Gulf Coast that featured a hit batter and three costly passed balls to fall behind 3-0.
The Lady Indians came back with a two-RBI single by Shelby Clark in the top of the second inning, and then took the lead in the seventh inning after an RBI single by Rosanne de Vries set up a grand slam by Katie Harrison to make it 7-3.
But Gulf Coast State rallied with four runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie it up, as Holly Brown singled to score Maleah McCombs and Katie White followed with a clutch three-run home run off of Chipola starter Jessica Elliott to make it 7-7.
After Chipola went back up 9-7 with two runs in the top of the eighth, Gulf Coast again fought back with a two-RBI single by Kelbi Davis to tie it back up.
The Lady Indians again went in front in the top of the ninth when Ciara Jones walked and scored on an RBI triple by Harrison, and Elliott finally closed the door by retiring the Lady Commodores in order in the bottom of the inning.
In the second game, Chipola trailed 7-1 through four innings, but the Lady Indians came back with two runs in the top of the fifth on RBI hits by Alyssa Hathcoat and Jenna Reeves, and added four more runs in the sixth inning on back-to-back home runs by Harrison and Brashante Dareus.
Harrison's three-run shot – her 17th homer of the season – cut Gulf Coast's lead to 7-6, and Dareus followed with a solo shot to tie the game.
A two-RBI single by Jones in the top of the seventh put the Indians on top 9-7.
After Chipola pitcher Luana Imamura walked Taylor Campbell and hit McCombs to give the Lady Commodores two runners with no outs, Elliott came in to replace her in the circle and retired the next two batters before giving up an RBI single by Kayla Fields to make it 9-8.
But Elliott closed it out by striking out Holly Brown to end the game.
Chipola will next play host to first-place Tallahassee on Friday at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.