ROME, Ga. --- The Mississippi College baseball team fell in the series opener at Shorter University, 11-7, on Saturday, March 23. MC moves to 12-13 on the season and 4-9 in Gulf South Conference action. The Hawks improve to 14-11 and 6-10 in the league.
 
The Choctaw out-hit the Blue and White, 12-10, led by Beau Kirsch's three hits – all singles. The Duson, La., native was one of four players with multiple-hit performances on the afternoon. It is the second three-hit effort of the season for Kirsch.
 
Caleb Reese, Wesley Sides and Korey Cooper logged two hits each. Sides notched a pair of doubles and drove in one while Reese added the third double of the day for the Blue and Gold as he also drove in a run. JT Vance drove in a run with a solo home run in the sixth - one of two homers on the day for the squad as Bryce LaRocca added a two-run home run in the sixth and finished with a pair of RBI. Blaise Breerwood joined the Lake Charles, La., product with a team-best two RBI.
 
Austin Huggins (2-2) was tagged with the setback on the bump. The Choctaw starter allowed six runs – three earned – on two hits in 1.2 innings of work. He also surrendered five walks. He was one of four MC hurlers to toe the rubber in the contest.
 
MC loaded the bases three times in the game, including in the top of the ninth and again in the seventh. The Blue and Gold stranded 12 runners during the contest, including nine in scoring position.
 
The Choctaw held a slim 3-2 advantage through their first two trips to the plate, but found themselves trailing 6-3 heading into the third frame as the Hawks posted a four-run inning. After a Sides' RBI-double drew the margin to within two runs in the top of the third, SU doubled up its visitors in the fourth with two runs, including a home run by Kobe Jones.
 
MC recorded both of its home runs on the day in the top of the sixth, narrowing the deficit to a run. LaRocca got the scoring started with a two-run shot that scored Logan Shurden and Vance followed with a solo home run to increase his team and conference lead to 11 and his eighth solo home run on the campaign. It was the first home run for LaRocca since March 6 at the University of Arkansas at Monticello and his first two-run shot of the season.
 
However, Jacob Pajer reset the advantage with a three-run home run in the seventh, after MC left the bags loaded in the top half of the frame. It was the third home run of the game for the Blue and White.
 
Cole McDaniel (1-1) picked up the victory on the bump in relief appearance action. He surrendered four runs – all earned – on six hits in five innings. He paired a couple strikeouts with two walks. Matt Navarro (1) registered his first save of the season as he toed the rubber for the final two outs and allowed just one walk.
 
Mississippi College closes out the series with the Hawks with a doubleheader on Sunday, March 24. First pitch is 11 a.m. central.
  Read Full Article