CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College baseball team swept a doubleheader at Union (Tenn.) University on Sunday, March 28. MC (7-13, 4-11 Gulf South Conference) rallied to take the opening game of the series, 11-9, in 10 innings and saw its offensive explode in the second game as it claimed an 18-5 victory.
 
The Choctaws combined for 27 hits in the twinbill as Dakota Kennedy led the team at the dish with six hits and drove in four runs. Dylan Duplechain led the team with five RBI. Caleb Reese joined Kennedy with a pair of multiple-hit efforts.
 
Jackson Smith (1-0) picked up the win on the bump in the opener. Smith allowed just one earned run on two hits with two strikeouts in 3.2 innings of relief. Lance Wade (1) logged his first save of the season as he wrapped up the game with the final one-third of an inning. Jackson Bridges (4-2) got the win in the nightcap. Bridges tossed 6.0 frames in the start as he allowed four runs – two earned -  on six hits with six strikeouts and a walk.
 
The series finale is slated for Monday, Feb. 29 with a Noon first pitch.

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GAME 1: Mississippi College 11 | Union 9 (10 inn.)
DATE: Sunday, March 28, 2021
LOCATION: Fesmire Field | Jackson, Tenn.
RECORDS: Choctaws 6-13, 3-11 GSC | Bulldogs 9-13, 7-12 GSC
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Mississippi College trailed 7-1 after the first six innings, but used a five-run, seventh to pull within a run. Markarius Lee got the scoring started as he crossed the dish as the Bulldogs attempted to throw out Jaron Harris at second base. Kennedy followed with an RBI single to score Harris. Ken Scott, George Farid and Lane Willis each drove in runs in the inning.
- MC took the lead with two runs in the eighth, but the Bulldogs tied the contest at 8-all in the bottom half of the inning and sent the contest to extra innings.
- The Choctaws plated three runs in the top of the 10th as Kennedy doubled to start the scoring and plate Lee. Duplechain pushed Kennedy across the dish with an RBI-single to right field and later scored on a Farid ground out.
- Union attempted a rally in the bottom half of the inning, but managed just one run.
 
ON THE MOUND
- Payton Russell toed the rubber with 4.2 innings in the start. He allowed 10 hits with five runs – four earned – with three walks and three strikeouts. David Dunn tossed 1.1 innings in relief with two runs allowed on two hits.
- Logan Portis (2-1) was the fourth pitcher to take the mound for the Bulldogs on the day and was saddled with his first loss of the season. He allowed three runs – one earned -  on three hits with two strikeouts.

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GAME 2: Mississippi College 18 | Union 5
DATE: Sunday, March 28, 2021
LOCATION: Fesmire Field | Jackson, Tenn.
RECORDS: Choctaws 7-13, 4-11 GSC | Bulldogs 9-14, 7-13 GSC
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Mississippi College found itself behind after six innings for the second consecutive game as it trailed 4-2, but the Choctaws again responded in the seventh with a season-high 10 runs in an inning. Logan McGrew and Kennedy each drove in four of the 10 runs in the frame. Farid, Lee and Duplechain each posted an RBI during the frame while Willis and Kennedy both scored off Union miscues.
- Union got a run back in the bottom of the seventh, but the Navy and Gold plated six runs in the top of the ninth to add insurance. Caleb Reese drove in Kennedy and Harris with a single to right field followed by Willis' double to left center to score Casey Page and Duplechain. McGrew capped the scoring with a two-run home run that pushed Willis across the dish.
 
ON THE MOUND
- Dylan Marsh and Dustan Dille each saw action in relief. Marsh allowed one run on one hit along with two walks and two strikeouts in the 2.0 innings. Dille tossed the final inning and struck out one in the three batters he faced.
- Luke Williamson (1-4) took the loss on the bump for UU. He allowed five runs – four earned - on four hits with six walks and five strikeouts.

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INSIDE THE BOX
- Mississippi College is 10-5 in the series with Union and has won the last four outings. The two wins mark the first for the Choctaws in Jackson, Tenn., since 2017.
- The extra-inning affair in the opener marked the second extra-inning affair this season for the Choctaws. MC is now 1-1 in extra-inning games.
- The extra-inning victory was the first since the Choctaws won at No. 1 Delta State on May 8, 2018.
- The 10 runs scored in the seventh inning of Game Two are the most in an inning since March 28, 2017 against William Carey.
- The 18 runs in the second game are a season-high for the Choctaws and surpass the previous high of 13 set against Shorter last weekend in the series finale.
- Kennedy's four-hit effort in the opening game is his second four-plus hit performance of the season.
- Bridges' six strikeouts are the most for a Choctaw hurler this season since Bryce Lewis fanned six, Shorter batters on March 20.