CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College baseball team returns to Gulf South Conference action this weekend as the Choctaws travel to Memphis, Tenn., to face Christian Brothers University. The series starts on Saturday, Mar. 18 with a doubleheader at 12 p.m. The finale is slated for Sunday, Mar. 19 with a first pitch of 1 p.m.
 
GAME COVERAGE
Audio | Stats
 
THE SERIES
Saturday's opening game marks the 17th meeting between Mississippi College and Christian Brothers. The series is deadlocked at 8-8 after MC took two of three from the Buccaneers last season in Clinton.
 
MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE NOTES
The Choctaws claimed a doubleheader sweep at nationally-ranked Union last weekend. MC held the Bulldogs to its lowest, offensive production of the season. Union was held to just three hits in the each of the two contests and a total of seven runs.
 
Chance Whitten went 4-for-8 in the twinbill to lead MC. The Batesville, Miss., native garnered three hits in the first game of the series as he finished a home run shy of hitting for the cycle. The senior was one of four Choctaws with multiple hit efforts in the two contests.
 
Casey Echols added a 3-for-5 day at the plate with a double and RBI while Hunter Wilson garnered a 2-for-5 day in the opener with a double and RBI and run scored. Blaine Crim provided the lone multi-hit performance in the night cap going 2-for-3 with a run scored.
 
On the mound, the Navy and Gold received stellar performances. Hunter Lacefield and Zack Ingram combined to hold the Bulldogs to just three hits in the opening game. Lacefield (1-1) tossed 8.0 innings in the start allowing two runs on – one earned – with five strikeouts and seven walks to collect his first career win. Ingram slammed the door on Union with the final frame on the bump without allowing a batter to reach for his first save of the season.
 
Hunter Mullis (1-2) garnered his first win on the hill this season with 4.0 frames on the mound allowing three runs on two hits with three strikeouts and six walks. Tommy Taborda added the second save of the season for the Navy and Gold. Taborda fanned five and allowed just one run on a hit and walk in 3.0 innings.
 
Echols and Hunter Sykes are each hitting over .300 this season for the Choctaws. Echols boasts a team-best .393 clip at the dish along with a team-best 24 hits. Sykes sits second on the team with a .306 batting average. Whitten leads the team with 14 RBI while Wilson and Will Elliott join him in double figures with 11 and 10 respectively.
 
Lacefield paces the hurlers with a 2.08 ERA in 17-plus innings. The junior from Senatobia, Miss., is third on the team in strikeouts with 17 while Taborda leads the squad in the category with 29. Tim Holloway ranks third on the team with 18 punch outs.
 
CHRISTIAN BROTHERS NOTES
The Buccaneers snapped a four-game slide on Wednesday, Mar. 15 with a 12-9 win over Bethel (Tenn.). CBU dropped a three-game, GSC series at West Alabama prior to the midweek victory along with a loss in the series finale against UAH on Mar. 5.
 
Three Bucs are hitting over .300 this season led by Taylor King's .373 clip and team-best 22 RBI and 28 hits. Riley Kilgore is hitting .317 with the Red and Black followed by Mickey Smith's .309. On the mound, Peyton Sanderlin leads CBU with 37 strikeouts in 41.2 innings – both team-bests.
 
NEXT UP
Following the weekend action, Mississippi College returns the diamond next weekend in a series against the University of West Georgia.