VALDOSTA, Ga. --- Mississippi College used the long ball to clinch a 12-5, series finale win over Valdosta State University on Sunday, Feb. 19 to gather its first Gulf South Conference decision of the season. MC improved to 3-8 on the season and 1-2 in league play. The Blazers fall to 7-3 and 2-1.
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The Choctaw belted four home runs in the contest, including two off the bat of
JT Vance, as it moved its GSC-leading total to 17 on the season. It is the third time on the campaign that the team has hit multiple home runs in a game.
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The victory gave the Blue and Gold its first in Valdosta since Apr. 2, 2017 and snapped a five-game slide at Tommy Thomas Park.
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Vance, who went 3-for-5 with five RBI and two runs on the day, got the scoring started early with a two-run home run in the first trip to the plate. The Blazers cut the lead in half in the home half of the frame and the narrow margin held until the top of the fourth when the Blue and Gold erupted for six runs in the fourth as Vance,
Bridley Thomas and
Tristan Tigrett each drove in runs during the spurt.
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After VSU got a run back in the bottom of the fourth, the Choctaw belted back-to-back-to-back home runs in the fifth to expand the deficit to 12-2.
Jordan Rollins hit a two-run home run to start the scoring in the frame as Tigrett and Vance followed with solo shots. It marked the second RBI of the day for Tigrett as he, Thomas and Rollins each joined Vance with multiple RBI.
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The Red and Black added a run in the fifth, seventh and ninth in an effort to rally, but it would fall short and fail in the series-sweep attempt.
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Austin Huggins (2-0) picked up the win on the mound with three innings in relief. He allowed two runs on three hits and struck out one.
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VSU compiled nine hits on the day led at the plate by Jovanni Canegitta with two hits.
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Mississippi College returns to action on Friday, Feb. 24 as it hosts Shorter University in the first of a three-game, GSC-series weekend. The contest sparks the first of an 11-game homestand. First pitch is at 5 p.m.
