PENSACOLA, Fla. --- The Mississippi College baseball team picked up the program's first-ever victory in Pensacola, Fla., as it held off the University of West Florida in a 5-4, Gulf South Conference win on Sunday, March 19.
 
Caleb Reese paced the Choctaw (8-18, 4-8 GSC) with three hits, including his 10th home run of the season, and three RBI. His three-run home run gave the Choctaw a 3-1 lead in the fifth and increased his team lead in the category.
 
Jordan Rollins and Cole Drake joined the Bossier City, La., native with multiple hits as each of them gathered two hits in the contest. MC totaled 10 in the affair. It's the eighth time on the campaign with double-digit hits for the squad.
 
After a scoreless two-plus frames, West Florida (13-11, 5-7 GSC) broke the deadlock with a solo home run from Darrien McDowell in the bottom of the third. Reese's three-run dinger answered the call in the top of the fifth to place the Choctaw on top 3-1.
 
Drake and JT Vance added to the total with RBI-double in the sixth and seventh frame to increase the lead to 5-1. True Fontenot clipped the deficit to 5-2 with an infield RBI-single in the eighth. Preston Moore narrowed the gap to a run as he belted a two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth and opened the door to a late rally for the Argonauts.
 
MC notched the second out of the ninth on infield pop fly, but three straight walks kept the door ajar for the Blue and Green, however, Austin Huggins got Jackson Grabsky to pop up on the infield ending the threat and secure the one-run decision. It is the first save of the season for a Choctaw hurler.
 
Lane Little (1-0) logged the win on the bump. He tossed two frames in relief and gave up just two hits along with a walk and strikeout. Brandon Gardner allowed just one run on seven hits in four innings in the start. He also struck out one.
 
Kade Mandersheid (2-1) received the loss on the mound as he surrendered three runs on seven hits in five frames. Mike Scordo led the squad with four hits.
 
Mississippi College returns home on Tuesday, March 21 as it hosts the University of Arkansas at Monticello for the fourth time this season. First pitch is 3 p.m.
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