TAMPA --- The Mississippi College baseball team upset No. 1 University of Tampa, 4-3, on Saturday, March 5 at UT Baseball Field. MC (6-12) snapped the Spartans' (15-2) 14-game win streak en route to capturing the final game of the weekend series.
 
It is the first win over a top five team for the Choctaws since April 29, 2018 against No. 3 Delta State University. UT had not lost since Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022 in a 5-4 setback to Georgia College.
 
The Navy and Gold picked up multiple-hit performances from Matthew Priest and Jackson Breedlove to pace the offensive effort. The duo combined for three of the Choctaws' four RBI on the day. Both Priest and Breedlove logged a pair of hits as Priest drove in a pair. Breedlove and Tristan Tigrett recorded a RBI each.
 
Jackson Bridges (3-0) logged the win on the mound. The Tupelo, Miss., native tossed eight innings in the start with three runs allowed – two earned - on six hits with four strikeouts and two walks. Brooks Warren (1) notched his first save of the campaign as he struck out the side in the final frame.
 
MC plated a run in each of its first three trips to the plate to amass a 3-1 lead through four frames. Tigrett got the team on the board with a RBI-single in the first inning that pushed Lance Wade across the dish. Wade was the first hit of the game as he doubled to left field and one of eight on the day.
 
Breedlove expanded the lead in the second with a single up the middle to score Markarius Lee, who reached on fielding error by the Spartans' first baseman. Priest added the third run in the top of the third as he drew a bases loaded walk to score Cody Crifasi. The Watson, La., native was hit by a pitch and scooted around the bases following three straight walks.
 
UT pulled to within a run in the bottom of the fifth as Josh Rulli scored on a groundout, but the Navy and Gold answered in the eighth as Crifasi scored for the second time in the game on a Priest RBI-single.
 
Tampa attempted a rally in the bottom of the ninth as J.D. Urso led off the frame with a home run and Luke Glancy drew a walk to bring the winning run to the plate on three occasions, but Warren slammed the door for the Choctaws to gain the one-run victory.
 
Mississippi College returns to action on Tuesday, March 8 as it hosts No. 19 Arkansas Tech University. It is the second meeting between the two squads this season as the Wonder Boys claimed the first meeting in Russellville, Ark. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.

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