CLINTON, Miss. --- Despite out-hitting the No. 22 University of West Alabama, the Mississippi College baseball team dropped a 12-7, Gulf South Conference contest on Sunday. The setback moves the Choctaws to 6-7 on the season and 1-5 in the conference. UWA improved to 11-4 and 4-2 in league play.
The Navy and Gold posted 15 hits to the Tigers 14.
Six MC hitters recorded multiple-hit performances on the day led by
Austin Warkentin's 4-for-4 day at the dish along with a pair of RBI and three runs scored. The Calgary, Alberta, native tallied his first home run of the season – a solo shot down the right field linen - and added three singles in the contest.
Chance Whitten joined the home run club with a two-run shot to right center in the fourth. The dinger was two of three RBI on the day for the Batesville, Miss., product as he was the only other Choctaw with multiple RBI on the day alongside Warkentin.
Hunter Bolin,
Logan Ferrell,
Caleb Upton and
Toler Robinson each posted two hits on the day.
UWA jumped on the board early grabbing an 8-0 lead through their first four trips to the plate. The biggest blow came in the fourth as Jack Cockrum sent a grand slam home run to right field to put the Red and White up 5-0.
MC plated its first run of the day as Upton scored on a Robinson sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fourth before Whitten connected on his home run. The Choctaws added another run in the bottom of the fifth as Warkentin singled to score Crim and cut the deficit in half.
UWA responded with three RBI hits over the seventh and eighth innings to push the lead to 12-4. MC answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame as Warkentin scored on Whitten double and Robinson crossed the dish on a fielder's choice.
Blaine Crim (2-3) took the loss on the mound with 3.2 innings of work in the start. The freshman hurler allowed eight run – four earned – on seven hits with two strikeouts and four walks. The Choctaws picked up a solid 2.2 innings from
Tommy Taborda in relief as the freshman allowed just one run on two hits with five KOs and three walks.
Tyler Scholl closed down the contest for the Navy and Gold with 2.0 innings of work allowing just two hits along with a strikeout.
Matt Payne pitched two-thirds of an inning with three runs allowed on three hits with a walk.
Evan Miller (1-1) took the win on the hill with 4.0 innings in relief as he surrendered three runs on seven hits with four strikeouts. UWA start Anthony Rosati pitched 4.0 frames with three runs allowed on six hits with a walk and three strikeouts.
Mississippi College returns to action on Tuesday, Mar. 1 in the first of a four-game road trip at Spring Hill College. First pitch in Mobile, Ala., is set for 4 p.m.
