CLEVELAND, Miss. --- The Mississippi College baseball team was edged 3-2 in the first of a three-game, Gulf South Conference at 12th-ranked Delta State. The setback moves MC to 16-29 and 6-24 in conference play. DSU improves to 33-14, 22-9 in the league.
 
In a contest that showed defensive gems for the Choctaws and held the Statesmen, the GSC's top hitting team, to just three runs. MC picked up a solid start from starter Jake Fraze as the sophomore tossed 7.0 innings of work allowing two runs on 11 hits.
 
Casey Echols notched the lone multiple hit effort for the Navy and Gold as the junior went 2-for-4 with a RBI.
 
Jacob Swiney drove in the first run of the game for Delta State in the bottom of the second as he reached on a fielder's choice that scored Ethan Gill scored, who led off the inning with a double to straight-away center field.
 
MC knotted the contest in the fourth on a Casey Echols single that scored Blaine Crim, who reached on a single earlier in the inning.
 
After the Green and White regained the lead on Swiney's second RBI hit of the game in the sixth, the Choctaws again forced a deadlock, this time in the top of the seventh, as Will Elliott hit his seventh home run of the season to left field.
 
DSU regained the lead in the bottom of the eighth as Swiney picked up his third RBI on a 4-3 put out that plated Trent Giambrone, who led off with a double to left center.
 
Parker Watts (1-1) was saddled with the loss in the affair as the freshman allowed one run on two hits in an inning of relief action.
 
Dalton Moats (9-3) took the win on the bump with a complete game effort as he struck out nine and allowed seven hits.
 
The two in-state foes will meet in a doubleheader on Sunday with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.