CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College baseball team fell to Arkansas Tech University, 12-5, in midweek, non-conference play on Tuesday, March 7.
 
MC (6-13) totaled eight hits on the afternoon led by Alex McWhorter with a pair of knocks. Cole Drake led the scoring output as he hit a first-pitch, three-run home run in the eighth inning to cut the deficit in half. The home run is the 31st of the season for the Blue and Gold, which leads the Gulf South Conference and ranks in the top five in Division II.
 
After a scoreless first two frames, ATU (15-5) broke the deadlock with a five spot in the top of the third and added two more in the fourth to take a 7-0 advantage. The Green and Gold plated another in the top of the fifth, before the Choctaw plated their first two runs in the bottom of the frame.
 
Bryce LaRocca pushed the first Blue and Gold run across the plate as he drew a bases loaded walk. Bridley Thomas loaded the bags with a five-pitch at-bat prior to a Beau Bates hit by pitch and Cody Crifasi single. Jordan Rollins plated the final run of the frame with a sacrifice fly to that scored Crifasi.
 
Tech added two more in the top of the eighth to extend the lead to 10-2 before Drake's home run narrowed the margin in the home half of the frame. ATU added two insurance runs in the top of the ninth to help secure the win.
 
Five Choctaw saw the mound in the effort as Austin Huggins (2-1) took the loss. He logged 2.2 innings in the start and allowed five runs – four earned – on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
 
Will Horton (2-0) gained the win on the bump as he tossed four innings in relief with three runs on four hits alongside a walk and two strikeouts as four hurlers toed the rubber in the contest for the visitors from the Natural State. Shane Poe led the offensive charge for the Wonder Boys as he went 4-for-6 with three RBI and two runs. Tech gathered 12 hits in the outing.
 
Mississippi College returns to Gulf South Conference action this weekend as it hosts the University of West Alabama in a three-game series. First pitch on Friday, March 10 is 5 p.m. Saturday's doubleheader is marked for 1 p.m.
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