VALDOSTA, Ga. --- The Mississippi College baseball team opened Gulf South Conference play as it dropped a doubleheader at Valdosta State University on Saturday, Feb. 18. The Blazers (7-2, 2-0 GSC) logged an 11-4 victory to open the series and held off a late surge from the Choctaw (2-8, 0-2 GSC) in the night cap, 7-3.
 
The two teams close the series on Sunday, Feb. 19. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. central.

Five Choctaw recorded multiple hits in the two contests with four coming in the second game as Bridley Thomas, JT Vance, Bryce LaRocca and Beau Bates with two hits each. Vance and LaRocca each provided doubles during their multi-hit performance. Caleb Reese recorded two hits in the opener.
 
In the second bill, the Choctaw recorded nine hits – one behind the homestanding Blazers – but couldn't find the timely hits to push past the Red and Black and pick up their first conference win of the season. Like the opening contest of the day, VSU jumped on the board early with four runs in its first two trips to the plate.
 
The Blue and Gold got on the board in the third inning as Thomas singled through the left side to score LaRocca. MC cut the lead in half with a second run in the fifth as LaRocca crossed the dish on a stolen base from Bates advancing to second.
 
The Blazers pushed the lead back to four with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Wesley Sides singled to left field to again cut the deficit in half, 6-3, and attempted to add more in the frame, but left two runners stranded in scoring position. The Red and Black responded with another run in the home half of the sixth.
 
Gavin LeBlanc (0-2) took the loss on the bump with 4.1 frames of work in the start. He allowed six runs on eight hits with three walks and two strikeouts.
 
In the opener, the Blazers posted runs in just three innings en route to the seven-run victory. VSU totaled five runs in the third following a scoreless first two frames. Vance placed the Choctaw on the board in the top of the fourth as he responded with a solo home run – his first of the season and the 13th for the team.
 
The Red and Black answered with its second, five-run frame in the bottom of the fourth to take a 10-1 advantage. MC tacked on a run in the top of the fifth and another two runs in the sixth to cut the deficit to 10-4. VSU pasted its final run on the board in the seventh.
 
Kyle Collet (0-2) suffered his second loss of the season as he allowed seven runs on five hits in the three innings. He fanned one and walked three in the start.
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