CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College baseball team opened the 2021 season as it dropped a doubleheader on Sunday, Feb. 7 at No. 19 Valdosta State University. The Blazers (2-0) took the first contest 9-2 and blanked the Choctaws (0-2) 9-0 in the second game of the twinbill.
 
George Farid led the Navy and Gold at the dish as he provided half of the team's hits with a pair in each contest. He also drove in a run and scored once. Dylan Duplechain and Caleb Reese gathered the other two hits in the opening game, as Reese also had an RBI, while Ken Scott and Alex Hay each had a hit in the second game.
 
Dylan Marsh and Jackson Bridges were saddled with the losses on the mound. Marsh tossed three frames with two runs – both earned – allowed on one hit and four walks. Bridges pitched 4.2 frames and allowed three runs – two earned – on five hits with five walks and three strikeouts.
 
Mississippi College and Valdosta State conclude the series on Monday, Feb. 8. First pitch is set for Noon CT.

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GAME 1: Mississippi College 2 | No. 19 Valdosta State 9
DATE: Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021
LOCATION: Valdosta, Ga. | Billy Grant Field at Tommy Thomas Park
RECORDS: Choctaws 0-1, 0-1 GSC | Blazers 1-0, 1-0 GSC
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Valdosta State held a 6-0 lead through the first, five innings of the season opener as it began the scoring in the second inning with an RBI-single from Nick Lewis. The Red and Black added three runs in the fourth and another two runs in the fifth to expand its lead.
- The Choctaws plated their first run of the 2021 season in the seventh as Farid drove in Duplechain with a double to center field. Reese pushed Farid across the dish as he singled through the right side.
- The Blazers responded with three runs in the eighth off a solo home run from Ben Rowdon and a two-run, double from Ryan DeInegro.
 
ON THE MOUND
- A trio of pitchers took the hill in the opener as Bryce Lewis and Payton Russell pitched in relief of Marsh. Lewis allowed four runs – all earned - on three hits with a walk and strikeout. Russell closed out the contest with 3.2 frames of work that included three runs – all earned – on five hits with a walk and strikeout.
- Elijah Gill took the win on the mound for the Blazers as he tossed six innings and allowed two runs - both earned - two hits with eight strikeouts and two walks.

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GAME 2: Mississippi College 0 | No. 19 Valdosta State 9
DATE: Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021
LOCATION: Valdosta, Ga. | Billy Grant Field at Tommy Thomas Park
RECORDS: Choctaws 0-2, 0-2 GSC | Blazers 2-0, 2-0 GSC
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After both squads went scoreless through the first, four and a half innings, Valdosta State broke the deadlock with three runs in the bottom of the fifth headlined by a David Maberry two-RBI single.
- Three extra-base hits in the seventh helped the Blazers secure the shutout in the second game. EJ Doskow's two-run, home run was sandwiched between two, run-scoring, doubles in the frame, including a Jowenrick Daantiji three-RBI, double to start the inning.
 
ON THE MOUND
- Four Choctaws took the mound in the contest as Truitt Smith, Jackson Smith and Brooks Warren each saw action in relief of Bridges. T. Smith tossed 1.2 innings and surrendered five runs – all earned – on six hits. J. Smith and Warren combined for 1.2 innings and allowed an unearned run on four hits.
- Tristan Cone picked up the win on the mound for the Blazers with six innings of work and only two hits allowed with six strikeouts.

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INSIDE THE BOX
- With his start in the season opener, Duplechain played in his first collegiate game since May 4, 2019 against Valdosta State in the GSC Tournament.
- Eight Choctaws made their Mississippi College debuts in today's action.