CLEVELAND, Tenn. --- The Mississippi College baseball team notched the first game of the Gulf South Conference series at Lee University with a 12-1, seven-inning win. MC improves to 18-22 on the season and 13-14 in the conference. The Flames move to 24-20 and 11-17 in the league.
 
The series is set to conclude with a doubleheader on Monday beginning at 10 a.m. central.
 
KEY STATS

• Three Choctaws totaled multiple hit efforts in the game led by Kyle Smith and Hunter Austin with three hits each. Blaine Crim added a two-hit performance to wrap up the trio. Crim drove in four runs to lead the team while Austin totaled three RBI.
• Zack Ingram (3-4) claimed his third win of the season in the complete game effort. The freshman hurler gave up four hits and fanned five with five walks in the decision.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Choctaws scored three runs in their first trip to the plate as Austin and Crim each drove in a run in the frame. MC loaded the bases to begin the inning as it capitalized on two fielding errors and a walk.
• The Flames regained a run in the bottom of the inning as Drew Johnson singled up the middle to score Nathan Wierzgac, who reached on a two-out, single.
• MC posted its second, three-run inning in the top of the third sparked by back-to-back singles. Crim used his second sac fly to drive in his second RBI of the game to start the scoring. Austin followed with a RBI single and then a stolen base to set up Grant Barber's RBI single to conclude the scoring.
• The Choctaws extended their lead to 8-1 in the top of the fourth as Wilson and Smith each swiped a base and Wilson scored on a throwing error by the Flames' catcher. Smith scored on the Echols' sac fly.
• MC added three more runs in the top of the sixth as Crim headlined the frame with a two-run single and Austin followed with a RBI single to increase the lead.