HATTIESBURG, Miss. --- The Mississippi College baseball team held off a late charge as it outlasts William Carey University, 9-8, on Tuesday, Apr. 11. The victory gives MC (13-25) its ninth all-time against the Crusaders (29-9) and the sixth in the last seven meetings.
 
Caleb Reese led the way the plate as he recorded two hits and drove in a pair of runs. Luis Alcantara matched the Bossier City, La., native in the multiple-hit category with two of his own while Jordan Rollins equaled also drove in two runs.
 
Austin Huggins (4-1) picked up the win on the bump as he struck out six in five innings and scattered three hits and allowed just one run. The victory moves into the top 10 in the conference in wins this season.
 
Jackson Smith (3) logged his third save of the season as he completed the last inning in relief with two runs allowed on two hits alongside a walk and strikeout. The save moved the Raymond, Miss., product into eighth in program history with in the category and tied with Donnie Foster (1981-82) with five in his career.
 
Caleb Williams (0-2) was saddled with the loss as he surrendered four runs on two hits in 3.1 frames and walked four along with four strikeouts.
 
The two teams stood deadlocked at 1-1 after the first three innings, but the Choctaw broke through with three runs in the top of the fourth without recording a hit in the frame. The Blue and Gold rode four walks and a hit by pitch in the inning along with four wild pitches.
 
MC added another three spot in the top of the sixth to expand its lead to 7-1. Four hits, a walk and a hit by pitch helped propel the frame as Reese headlined with a two-run, single to left field, which marked the third of the inning.
 
The Choctaw drew 10 walks in the game led by Bridley Thomas with three. The Brandon, Miss., native moved to second on the single-season chart with 42 as he surpassed Stan Coats (1986), who has 39 during his time in Clinton.
 
After the Red and Black clipped the deficit to two runs with a four-run inning in the home half of the sixth, the Choctaw got a run back in the top of the seventh to extend the margin back to three runs as Rollins drove in Bryce LaRocca with a single to left center.
 
The two teams exchanged a run back and forth and the Choctaw held a three-run advantage heading into the bottom of the ninth. With two runners aboard along with two outs, Patrick Lee drew a walk to load the bases. Jake Lycette followed with a two-run, single to right field to narrow the lead to a run. However, a Preston Ratcliff dribbler in front of the plate was Kolby McWilliams scooped up and he applied the tag to leave two runners on the bags.
 
Mississippi College return to Gulf South Conference action as it hosts Christian Brothers University in the first of a three-game series on Friday, Apr. 14. First pitch is at 6 p.m.
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