CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College baseball team used a six-run, seventh inning to grab the Gulf South Conference opening win over the University of West Alabama on Friday, Feb. 14. MC improved to 4-3 on the season while the Tigers fell to 5-3 on the campaign.
 
Two Choctaws recorded multiple hits in the contest led by Georgia Farid going 3-for-5 with a pair of RBI and a run scored. Grant Barber went 2-for-5 on the night with a run. Caleb Reese led the Navy and Gold in RBI with three – all coming on a three-run home run in the seventh - as he joined Farid with a multi-RBI effort.
 
Sam Ciaccio (1-0) picked up his first win of the season as he tossed two innings of scoreless baseball in relief with three strikeouts. Austin Chastang (1) garnered the save with a third of an inning and a strikeout.
 
Mississippi College and West Alabama close out the series on Saturday, Feb. 15 in a doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
 

GAME 1: Mississippi College 8 | West Alabama 6
DATE: Friday, Feb. 14, 2020
LOCATION: Clinton, Miss. | Frierson Field
RECORDS: Choctaws 4-3, 1-0 GSC | Tigers 5-3, 0-1 GSC
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Choctaws opened the contest striking in their first at-bat as Farid drove in a pair with the bases loaded. MC rode the 2-0 lead through the fifth inning when the Tigers took their first lead of the game.
- Taylor Clemmons placed the Red and White on the board with a single up the middle to plate Austin Moffett. Brandon Lyman followed with a two-RBI single center field placing the visitors from Livingston in front 3-2.
- MC took back the lead with authority in the bottom of the seventh as Reese got the big inning going with his second home run of the season. Brandon Broussard followed with a RBI double that plated Chauncey Callier and left Broussard and Logan McGrew in scoring position. After McGrew scored on a balk and Broussard moved up 90 feet, the Choctaw catcher scored on a throwing error to cap the six-run frame.
- The Tigers rallied to make things interesting in the ninth as they capitalized on two throwing miscues and a Connor Christian RBI double, but couldn't overcome the deficit, leaving the tying run stranded at first on a strikeout.
 
ON THE MOUND
- MC starter David Dunn tossed six innings as he allowed three runs – all unearned – on six hits with a strikeout.
- Jackson Bridges threw two thirds of an inning as he surrendered three runs – unearned – on a hit with a walk.
- UWA's Mason Hollander pitched 5.2 frames in the start as he allowed two runs on five hits with three strikeouts and two walks. Austin Kitterman (1-2) took the loss on the mound as he gave up six runs – four earned – on four hits in just two-thirds an inning.
 
INSIDE THE BOX
- It's the fourth straight win in the series for the Choctaws and their sixth of the last seven.
- Reese's home run places him a tie for tops on the team in the category as he joins Callier and McGrew. The Choctaws lead the GSC in home runs with eight.
- Ciaccio's victory on the mound marks the first of his MC career.
- With the 10 hits, it's the third time this season for the Choctaws have recorded double-digit hits in a game.