MONTEVALLO, Ala. --- The Mississippi College baseball team fell in its Gulf South Conference doubleheader to conclude the series at the nationally ranked University of Montevallo on Saturday, Apr. 22. The Choctaw (15-30, 9-18 GSC) saw their rally in the opening game of the day come up short, 12-8, and was toppled in the series finale, 18-6. UM improved to 35-10 on the season and 19-8 in conference play.
 
Trailing 8-4 through six frames in the opening game of the series, the Choctaw positioned themselves for a come-from-behind victory as it rallied to score four in the top of the seventh. The Blue and Gold totaled five of its 16 hits in the frame as it paired the output with three walks.
 
Kolby McWilliams delivered the biggest blow of the inning with a three-RBI, double to right center to get the scoring started. One batter later, Beau Kirsch sent a shot into right field to McWilliams and knot the contest at 8-all.
 
After Ervin Simmons retired the Falcons in order in the bottom of the seventh, MC looked to keep the pressure on in the top of the eighth and break the deadlock as it loaded the bases with one down, but a strikeout and line out interrupted the threat and left the bags full.
 
The Purple and Gold rode the momentum into its trip at the plate in the home half of the inning as it pounded out four runs on five hits to regain the lead. It marked the second, eighth-inning comeback for the Falcons in the weekend series as it accomplished the feat in the series opener on Friday. Reed Latimer drove in half the runs of the frame with a two-run, double through the left side.
 
MC looked to climb back into the contest in its final trip to the plate in the top of the ninth as Cole Drake and Beau Bates each recorded a hit in the inning, but a deep fly ball to center was hauled in at the wall to conclude the inning.
 
Simmons (1-5) was pegged with the setback as he allowed four runs on five hits and struck out four in two frames in the relief appearance. He was one of three Choctaw hurlers to take the bump in the contest.
 
Caleb Reese led the team at the dish with four hits as he was one of five Choctaw with multiple hits in the contest. Bates, JT Vance, McWilliams and Alex McWhorter each recorded a pair of hits. McWilliams posted one of two multi-RBI efforts in the outing as he drove in a team best four. Vance added a three-RBI outing.
 
UM looked to sweep the series with a win in the finale as it started scored early and often in the contest. The Purple and Gold posted a seven spot in its first trip to the dish as it posted a total of 18 runs in the affair.
 
The Choctaw looked to rally in the top of the second with four runs. Luis Alcantara and Bates provided RBI hits in the frame as Alex McWhorter crossed the dish on a wild pitch as it was sandwiched between the two RBI hits.
 
The Falcons responded with three runs in the bottom of the second and added a second three spot in the third to increase its lead to 13-4 through three frames. They added five runs in the bottom of the fourth to watch the lead swell to 18-4.
 
MC added two runs in the top of the fifth to cut into the deficit, but it was not enough as the squad was swept for the third time this season and the first time since early February. McWhorter drove in the first run of the inning with a single up the middle and later scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Wesley Sides. McWhorter led the team at the plate with four hits. He was joined by Bates with a multi-hit effort in the contest as Bates collected a pair of hits and drove in two runs.
 
Gavin LeBlanc (0-9) was saddled with the setback as he surrendered 10 runs – eight earned – on eight hits in 1.2 innings.
 
Mississippi College returns to action on Tuesday, Apr. 25 as it travels to Monticello, Ark., for the final of five games against the University of Arkansas at Monticello this season. First pitch is at 3 p.m.
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