ROME, Ga. --- Casey Page's heroics in the ninth helped the Mississippi College baseball team to a 13-12, come-from-behind win at Shorter University on Friday, March 6. MC improved to 11-7 on the season and 6-1 in Gulf South Conference action. The Hawks fell to 11-5 and 1-5 in the league.
 
Trailing 12-11 going into the ninth, Page delivered a two-run home run in the top of the ninth to complete the Choctaws' rally and grab the first win in the weekend series over Shorter. The Tuscaloosa, Ala., native's homer marked his roster-best third hit of the day and tied him for tops on the team with four RBI.
 
Samuel Kimel also drove in a team-best four RBI in the contest as he along with Page recorded multiple hit efforts. Brandon Broussard, Chauncey Callier and Markarius Lee collected two hits each while Broussard and Lee each joined with multi-RBI performances.
 
Truitt Smith (1-0) picked up his first win on the mound this season with one inning in relief. Smith allowed just one run on two hits. Tommy Taborda (2) logged his second save on the campaign as he completed the contest with a spotless ninth and picked up a strikeout.
 
Coleton Barnes (0-1) took the loss on the mound for the Hawks as he allowed two runs on three hits and recorded three strikeouts.
 
The Choctaws and Hawks wrap up the series on Saturday, March 7 with a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 11 a.m.
 

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GAME 1: Mississippi College 13 | Shorter 12
DATE: Friday, March 6, 2020
LOCATION: Rome, Ga. | Ledbetter Baseball Complex
RECORDS: Choctaws 11-7, 6-1 GSC | Hawks 11-5, 1-5 GSC
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After Shorter struck the first blow in its first trip to the plate, MC responded with four runs in the second to take a 4-1 lead. Page drove in his first two runs of the game in the inning with a single to right field. Broussard and Lee each picked up RBI in the frame.
- The Hawks cut the lead in half in the third on a solo home run from Justin Barnes. The Blue and White tied the game in the fourth as Matt Christian singled to left field to score Aaron Reardon.
- The Choctaws responded in the fifth with four runs as Kimel headlined the inning with a three-run home run. Lee added an RBI with a double to left that scored Broussard.
- MC added three runs in the sixth as Reese started the scoring with a solo home run. Kimel and Broussard each added an RBI in the frame to expand the lead to 11-4 through five and half innings.
- Shorter answered with eight runs over the next three innings to grab a 12-11 lead heading into the ninth inning. The biggest blow during the stretch came on a grand slam home run from Bailey Gerstner in the sixth.
- Trailing by the one run, Kimel started the Choctaw ninth with a single to center field, following a Broussard sacrifice bunt, which advanced Kimel to second, Page relocated the ball for his first home run of the season and placed the Navy and Gold up for good.
- Taborda entered in the bottom of the ninth and after striking out Christian for the first out of the inning, he got Jakob Woods and Barnes to fly out to right field to cap the contest.
 
ON THE MOUND
- Seven Choctaws took the mound in the series opener. David Dunn led the charge with four innings in the start. He allowed four runs – two earned – on five hits along with a walk and strikeout.
- Sam Ciaccio tossed one frame as he allowed four runs – all unearned – on one hit with three walks.
- Hayden Harrell pitched a frame allowing one unearned run on three hits along with a strikeout.
- Bryce Lewis and Austin Chastang combined for the seventh inning. The duo allowed two runs on two hits while Chastang registered a strikeout.
 
INSIDE THE BOX
- With the save, Taborda collected the 11th of his career. He now sits third all-time in career saves and three from claiming the program record.
- This marks the eighth time this season the Choctaws have recorded multiple home runs in a game and the fourth time with three home runs in the same game.
- Mississippi College leads the Gulf South Conference in home runs with 24.
- With 13 total hits, it's the ninth time this season MC has recorded 10-plus hits. The 13 is tied for second-most on the campaign (15 v. Young Harris on 2/9).
- It's the fourth game this season with double-digit runs while the 13 ties the second most this season (17 v. Quincy on 2/23; 13 v. Union on 3/1).
 

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Mississippi College is a private Christian university located in Clinton, Mississippi with an enrollment of over 5,000 students. MC recently finished their transition process back to NCAA Division II and the Gulf South Conference and began 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.