HOOVER, Ala. --- The Mississippi College baseball drew a doubleheader split with North Greenville University on Friday, Feb. 12 as the Choctaws (4-1) logged a 4-2 win in the second game of the twinbill. NGU (2-3) claimed the first outing 10-9.
Blaine Crim notched the victory on the mound in the second contest with 6.1 innings of work. The Mobile, Ala., native allowed two runs on two hits with a season-high seven strikeouts. The freshman was also 2-for-3 at the plate in the game as he finished 5-for-7 with three RBI and a run scored.
MC jumped on the board in the second contest with three runs in the three trips to the plate.
Caleb Upton delivered the biggest blow in the third inning with a two-run, single in the third inning to score
Logan Ferrell and
Hunter Bolin.
NGU added a pair of runs in the fifth, but were kept at bay as Crim tagged the tying run out at the dish on a relay from Bolin in left field.
The Choctaws added a run in the bottom of the fifth as Bolin scored on a sacrifice bunt by
Hunter Hall.
In the opener, the Crusaders jumped on the board scoring a combined nine runs in the second and third frames and held a 9-3 advantage through three complete innings. MC rallied with five runs in the bottom of the fourth to draw the Navy and Gold with a run.
Will Elliott jump started the frame with a two-run, home run to right field scoring
J.C. Heflin. After Ferrell singled to score Bolin, Crim doubled down the right field line to score
Caleb Upton and Ferrell.
Toler Robinson delivered the game-tying run in the seventh as singled to score Crim.
Following a scoreless eighth inning, the Crusaders plated the winning run on a Tony Davila single through the right side to score Shaquille Rolle. It marked Davila's team-best, third hit of the contest and his third RBI.
Tommy Taborda took the loss on the mound in the relief effort. The Popano Beach, Fla., freshman tossed 4.2 innings in relief allowing just the one run on one hit with four strikeouts.
Samuel Harrison, the MC starter, pitched 2.1 frames with six runs – three earned – on nine hits with a strikeout and a walk.
Mississippi College returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 13 as it meets North Greenville at 1 p.m. at the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium for the rubber match of the series.
