After two weeks of Panhandle Conference action, Coach Jeff Johnson's squad had a break in the schedule following a 5-3 start in conference play. On Thursday, the Indians stepped out of conference play and split a doubleheader with Coastal Alabama - South from By Minette, Alabama.
GAME ONE: Coastal Alabama - South (11) Chipola (6)
With the two teams tied at one through four innings, the Sun Chiefs broke out with an eight-run fifth inning to take a commanding lead in game one of the afternoon doubleheader.
The Sun Chiefs used a pair of home runs, six walks, and an error in the fifth to take conrol and then fought off Chipola's attempt for a comeback.
The Indians fought back with a pair of runs in the fifth and sixth innings to close the Coastal lead to 9-5 but a two run top of the seventh for the visitors put the game out of reach.
Drew Howard picked up his first loss of the season to move to 4-1 on the year.
The Indians did mange to outhit the Sun Chiefs, 14-4, with Peter Vazquez leading the way with a 3-for-4 day.
A trio of Indians, Tucker Flint, Shane Lewis, and Zac Rice, each had a pair of hits with Jake Holland hitting his third home run of the season, a solo shot in the 7th inning.
GAME TWO: Chipola (6) Coastal Alabama - South (5)
The Indians wasted no time getting on the board early in game two. David Castillo singled to score Peter Vazquez and Cam Collier in the first inning to give Chipola a 2-0 lead.
In the second inning, Emanuel Aldoban doubled and advanced to third on a bunt single by Zac Rice. Aldoban scored to give the Indians a 3-0 lead after the Sun Chiefs' catcher throw sailed into center field trying to catch rice stealing second.
The Sun Chiefs closed the Indians' lead to one following back-to-back walks with two outs and the bases loaded in the top of third inning.
The score remained 3-2 until the Indians added to their lead with a solo shot over the left field fence in the bottom of the fourth on Zac Rice's fifth home run of the season.
In the top of the fifth, the Sun Chiefs took a 5-4 lead using three singles, three walks, and an error.
Chipola would return the favor in the bottom of the sixth, using a pair of walks to Cesar Franco and Emanuel Aldoban to start the inning. After a wild pitch moved Franco to third followed by a steal of second base from Aldoban, a wild pitch moved the runners up yg the game at five.
With one out, Tucker Flint hit a fly ball to centerfield deep enough to allow Aldoban to score and put the Indians ahead 6-5.
Cam Collier pitched a clean inning in the seventh to earn his third save if the season.
Ashe Ammerlaan picked up the win in relief to move to 3-0 on the season. Ammerlaan pitched 1.2 innings for the Indians and did not allow a hit or a run while striking out four and walking two.
NEXT UP:
The Indians will be back in Panhandle Conference play next week when they travel to Gulf Coast on Tuesday and Thursday at 5 PM for a nine inning game each day. Chipola will host Gulf Coast the following Saturday for a doubleheader starting at 1 PM.