CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College baseball team opened up their 2018 season by splitting a double header with the #17 ranked Lions of Lindenwood University on Saturday afternoon. MC bested the Lions 12-11 in game one, while falling to the Lions 5-4 in game two.
                                      
GAME ONE
TURNING POINT
- After surrendering four runs to the lions in the top of the 5^th inning, The Choctaws responded with four runs on six hits to reclaim the lead at 12-10. MC would hold that lead for the reminder of the game to secure the 12-11 victory.
 

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HOW IT HAPPENED
- Both teams tallied three runs in the first, with the Lions grabbing their three on only one hit and the Choctaws scoring theirs on a balk, and RBI groundout from Trey Pittman and RBI single from Brandon Broussard
- After surrendering a run to the Lions in the second, the Choctaws would respond their next time up with three more runs on a two-RBI double from Kyle Smith, and a sacrifice fly from Blaine Crim.
- The Lions would go on to add runs in both their third and fourth innings, with the Choctaws picking up a pair of runs in the fourth on an RBI single from Hunter Wilson, and an RBI base on balls from Broussard.
- Both teams saw their highest run production of the game in the fifth. After giving up a four spot in the top half of the inning, a two-RBI single from Grant Barber, and a RBI double from Crim, with Wilson scoring on an ensuing run-down after the double from Crim, gave the Choctaws a 12-10 lead.
- The Lions attempted to mount a rally in the 9^th inning, as they loaded up the bases with two outs on a single, a walk and a dropped third-strike that allowed Connor Behrens to reach first. The lions failed to capitalize, however, as Tommy Taborda struck out Brennan Fitzpatrick with the bases loaded for the game's final out.
 

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STANDOUT PERFORMERS
- Barber and Smith led the way offensively for the Choctaws, both tallying three hits apiece and two RBIs, with Smith also scoring a team-high four runs.
- Wilson and Hunter Sykes both accounted for two hits in game one, along with two runs scored, with Wilson picking up two runs batted in.
- Broussard and Crim both also picked up a pair of RBIs in the contest.
- Stephen Atkins (1-0) picked up the win in relief, hurling 2 2/3 innings of one-run relief while striking out one and only walking one. Atkins relived Tim Holloway of his pitching duties in the fifth inning of the game, who relived starter Zack Ingram in the fourth.
- Christian Bellew tossed 1 2/3 innings of relief, while walking just one against eight batters faced.
- Tommy Taborda (1) recorded the final out of the game for the Choctaws, en route to his first save of the year.  
- Neil Fischer drove in a team-high three runs in the game on two doubles.
- Drew Quinones scored a team-best four runs, with two base hits and two runs driven in.
- DJ Miller launched the game's lone home run, a solo shot to left field in the second. Miller also accounted for three runs scored.
- Marshall Shill (0-1) took the loss for the Lions, who surrendered four runs in 1 2/3 innings of relief.
 

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KEY STATS
- The Choctaws boasted an impressive .435 average with runners on, and a mark of .412 with runners in scoring position.
- Both pitching staffs struck out five batters in the contest, with the Choctaws issuing 13 free passes, and the Lions giving out nine.
- The Choctaws left nine runners on base, while the Lions stranded 16.
- Choctaw pitching held the Lion attack to a .231 average with runners on, and a .150 average with runners in scoring position.
- Both teams committed two errors in the game, resulting in one unearned run for the Lions, and two for the Choctaws.
 

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GAME NOTES
- Bellew, Trey Pittman and Luke Yancey all made their MC debut for the Choctaws in the contest.
- By going 2-3 in the game, Wilson made it 27 games in a row in which he recorded a hit, dating back to last season.
- The win marked for the first time since the 2016 season that the Choctaws opened up their season with a victory.
 

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GAME TWO
TURNING POINT
- After going up 2-0 in the first inning, the Lions doubled their lead to 4-0 in the second inning, as the result of a two-RBI double from DJ Miller. The Lions would hold their lead for the rest of the way.
 

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HOW IT HAPPENED
- A pair of singles from Fischer and Vince Saladino put the Lions up 2-0 in the first inning.
- After surrending two more runs in the second, the Choctaws would respond with a run off of a Smith HBP that brought in Broussard.
- The Choctaws would add another run in the fourth, when Smith doubled in Sykes to cut MC's deficit in half.
- The lions picked up an insurance run in the top of the seventh, when Saladino reached on an error that plated Miller.
- MC made one final push in the bottom of the seventh, as the Choctaws saw Crim and Ty Alderman score on a two-RBI triple by Broussard with two outs. Broussard, who represented the tying run, was left stranded at third to end the game.
 

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STANDOUT PERFORMERS
- Smith picked up a team-high two hits in the game, with two runs driven in.
- Broussard also drove in a pair of runs on the night.
- Crim, Alderman and Sykes all also picked up a hit in the contest
- Hunter Mullis (0-1) picked up the loss in the contest. The senior southpaw logged 4 2/3 innings of work, while surrendering four earned runs and striking out four.
- Brandon Kennedy tossed the remaining 2 1/3 innings of the game, while giving up just one run and striking out two.
- DJ Miller led the Lion attack with a team-high three hits, two runs scored and two runs batted in.
- Andrew Eilers (1-0) picked up the win for Lindenwood. Eilers allowed just two runs over six inning of work, while striking out seven and walking only two.
 

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KEY STATS
- The Choctaws batted just .125 with runners in scoring position in the game, going 1-8 on the night.
- All four of the Choctaw runs in the contest came with two outs.
- Despite reaching base four times via error, MC left 10 runners on base in the game.
 

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GAME NOTES
- Kennedy and Alderman both made their debut for the Choctaws in the contest.
- Wilson saw his 27-game hit streak come to an end as a result of going 0-4 in game two of the double header.
 

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UP NEXT
- The Choctaws will wrap up their opening weekend series with the Lions on Sunday, Feb. 4. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
 

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Mississippi College is a private Christian university located in Clinton, Mississippi with an enrollment of over 5,000 students. MC is recently finished their transition process back to NCAA Division II and the Gulf South Conference and will be competing for conference and national championships in the 2016-17 academic year.
 
The athletic department sponsors 17 intercollegiate athletic programs: Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Football, Golf, Men's and Women's Soccer, Softball, Men's and Women's Tennis, Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field, Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field and Volleyball.
 
For more information on Mississippi College athletics, please contact David Nichols at 601-925-3234 or nichols@mc.edu.