LAKELAND, Fla. – Billy Cameron delivered a two-RBI single and
Ryan Lane struck out the side as the Mississippi College baseball team eliminated nationally-ranked and in-state foe Delta State University, 7-4, in the NCAA Division II South Regional.
Cameron drove in the go-ahead runs in the seventh and Lane slammed the door out of the bullpen to garner his season-leading seventh save with four strikeouts, including three in the ninth.
The meeting was the sixth of the season between the two Gulf South Conference members and the second time the Choctaws ousted the Green and White from postseason play. The first came in the GSC Baseball Championship Tournament in Cleveland, Miss.
Hunter Wilson logged a pair of hits to record the lone multiple hit performance of the day for the Navy and Gold.
Game Score: Mississippi College 7 | Delta State 4
Start: 3:30 p.m. | TOG: 2:36
Date: Tues., May 22, 2018
Location: Lakeland, Fla. | Tiger Town
Records: Choctaws 36-16 | Statesmen 42-11
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Mississippi College struck first in the game with three runs in the bottom of the third. After a Hunter Sykes' single and Kyle Smith walk, Grant Barber reached a three-base, throwing error by the Statesmen allowing Sykes and Smith to score. Blaine Crim followed with a sacrifice fly to plate Barber.
- The Statesmen rallied back in the top of the fifth with three runs headlined by a two-run home run from Zack Shannon.
- A Brandon Broussard sacrifice fly placed MC back in front in the bottom of the sixth, but the Statesmen.
- After Brian Lane tied the game in the top of the seventh with a RBI single, the Choctaws responded in the bottom of the frame with a pair of runs on a RBI single from Billy Cameron that scored Kyle Smith and Grant Barber.
- MC increased the lead in the bottom of eighth as Trey Pittman drove in Brandon Broussard, who reached on two-out double.
ON THE MOUND
- Shelby Craddock (3-0) tossed 2.1 frames in relief with one run allowed on two hits.
- MC starter Peyton Lott pitched 4.2 innings with three runs allowed on three hits with a strikeout and three walks.
NOTEABLES
- Lott's start for MC was his third of the season and first since Apr. 4 at Montevallo.
NEXT UP
Mississippi College moves on to face the University of Tampa on Tuesday, May 22 in an elimination game. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. central.
