CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College baseball team concluded its 2023 campaign with a pair of one-run decisions, 14-13 and 2-1, to in-state and Gulf South Conference foe, Delta State University, on Sunday, Apr. 30. The Statesmen (24-24, 14-15 GSC) rallied late in both contests to take the series.
 
In the opening game of the doubleheader, the Green and White used a 10-run, seventh inning to grab its first lead of the game at 14-11, but play was suspended in the bottom half of the frame due to weather on Saturday, Apr. 29. The Choctaw attempted a rally in the home of the seventh as it loaded the bases with no outs when play halted.
 
When the two Magnolia State institutions returned to the field on Sunday, the Blue and Gold etched a pair of runs to narrow the margin to within a run. After Bryce LaRocca scored on a 6-3, double play to post the first run of the frame, Luis Alcantara scooted across the dish on a throwing error, but the tying run was stranded at second base to cap the inning.
 
Lane Little (2-1) suffered his only setback of the season as he pitched a third of an inning in relief and allowed four runs on one hits and three walks.
 
The Blue and Gold opened the contest with nine runs through its first three trips to the plate. Cole Drake, Wesley Sides and LaRocca each provided home runs during the span. The Choctaw plated four in the first inning powered by Drake's three-run home run. Sides added a two-run home run in the top of the third followed by a solo homer from LaRocca to help expand the margin.
 
Delta got on the board in the top of the fourth as Carson Clowers hit a three-run home run. Jonathan Dewberry helped narrow the deficit in the top of the sixth with a single that plated Matthew Nichols. However, MC responded in the home half of the sixth with a pair of runs. JT Vance roped an RBI triple that scored Bridley Thomas and Kolby McWilliams followed with a single to score Vance and push the advantage to 11-4.
 
Drake led the way at the plate in the opener as he went 3-for-5 with five RBI. He was one of five Choctaw to record multiple hits in the effort as McWilliams, Alex McWhorter, LaRocca and Alcantara all chimed in two hits.
 
Kameron Koch (2-3) notched the victory on the mound despite just two-thirds of an inning. He gave up two runs – one earned – on two hits during the relief appearance. Noah Magee (2) picked up the save with three innings of work in place of Koch. He held the Choctaw without a run or hit during the appearance as he fanned three.
 
In the series finale, the two squads fought through five and a half scoreless innings until the Blue and Gold broke the deadlock in the bottom of the sixth as manufactured the go-ahead run. Thomas opened the frame with a leadoff walk on six pitches. McWilliams followed two batters later with a single to advance Thomas to second base and later score on a McWhorter single to left field.
 
MC starter, Caleb Jacobs, sat the Statesmen down in order over the first two innings and did not allow a hit until the top of the fourth when Hayden Cooper doubled to left field, but was left standing at the end of the inning. He allowed just two DSU baserunners over the next two frames via a walk until a solo home run to lead off the seventh tied the contest at 1-all. Jacobs (2-2) struck out six over six innings, but was saddled with the loss after giving up two runs – one earned – on two hits alongside four walks.
 
Following Eric Newsom's home run, Brett Cobb drew a walk and was pushed around the base path until Clowers reached on a fielding miscue that allowed Cobb to scoot home and give the Green and White a one-run advantage.
 
MC attempted one last rally, to end both squad's seasons in Clinton, in the bottom of the seventh as Lane Willis hit a two-out, single into left center field. Thomas followed with a single of his own to place two aboard with two outs, but a fielder's choice at third base retired Willis and capped the season.
 
Mississippi College, which bid farewell to seven players who concluded their careers in the Blue and Gold on Saturday, finished with a 16-33 record and 10-20 in conference play. Read Full Article