Fulton, MS - The Illinois Central College baseball team (0-3) played their 2026 opening series against Itawamba Community College (6-2) on Thursday and Friday. Itawamba took the first game on Thursday, 5-2. Itawamba then dominated in Friday's double header, winning 14-4 and 12-2. 

The Cougars head back to Mississippi on Saturday to play Northwest Mississippi at 1 pm and then a double header on Sunday at 1 and 3 pm. 

Stat leaders from Thursday and Friday's games are posted below:

GAME 1 | ITAWAMBA 5, ILLINOIS CENTRAL 2
Cougar Hitting
Jake Morrill - 1 single, 1 double
Ryan Brucker - 1 double, 1 walk
Kyle Binder - 1 walk
Jordan Heider - 1 walk
Charlie Graham - 1 walk

Cougar Pitching 
Caleb Bieneman (ND) - 3 innings, 3 hits, 1 earned run, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts
Eli Wang (L; 0-1) - 4 innings, 3 hits, 2 earned runs, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts

GAME 2 | ITAWAMBA 14, ILLINOIS CENTRAL 4
Cougar Hitting
Mason Stoller - 2 singles
Jake Morrill - 2 singles
Ben Lapp - 2 singles, 1 walk
Micah McCoy - 1 single
Jack Henson - 1 single
Aidan Fulton - 1 single, 1 walk
Ryan Brucker - 1 walk

Cougar Pitching
Cam Clifton (L; 0-1) - 4.2 innings, 4 hits, 4 earned runs, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts
Wyatt Jaeck (ND) - 0.2 inning, 2 hits, 4 earned runs, 2 walks, 1 strikeout
Spencer Timm (ND) - 1.2 innings, 3 hits, 1 earned run, 1 strikeout
Lane Hunt (ND) - 0.2 inning, 3 hits, 4 earned runs, 1 walk
Lucas Holly (ND) - 0.0 inning, 2 hits, 1 earned run, 1 walk

GAME 3 | ITAWAMBA 12, ILLINOIS CENTRAL 2 (6 inn.)
Cougar Hitting
Jake Morrill - 1 single, 1 walk
Braden Mehn - 1 double
Charlie Graham - 1 single
Jace Easley - 1 walk
Ryan Brucker - 2 walks

Cougar Pitching 
Braden Vanderheydt (L; 0-1) - 2 innings, 5 hits, 7 earned runs, 3 walks, 1 strikeout
Brady Bolen (ND) - 2 innings, 3 walks, 1 strikeout
Kyle Miller (ND) - 1 inning, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts
Preston Rowe (ND) - 0.0 innings, 1 hit, 2 earned runs

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
Saturday, February 21
at 1:00 pm
vs. Northwest Mississippi 
Senatobia, MS