ROME, Ga. --- The Mississippi College baseball team split its doubleheader on Sunday, March 24 at Shorter University, but dropped the series. MC (13-14, 5-10 Gulf South Conference) opened the day with an 11-8 victory, but dropped the series finale, 11-6.
 
The Choctaws notched eight hits in each contest.
 
In the opening game, the Blue and Gold held off a late charge for the Hawks as SU posted six runs in the last two innings. MC held a 5-0 lead through the first five frames, but were outscored 8-6 over the final four innings.
 
The Choctaws combined for eight hits in the Sunday lidlifter, including multiple-hit performances from the Bryce LaRocca and Caleb Reese. Along with his two hits in the contest, Reese tied for tops on the team in RBI as he drove in a pair. JT Vance and Blaise Breerwood joined the Bossier City, La., product in the multi-RBI efforts with two RBI each.
 
Holland Townes (3-2) notched the win on the bump as he allowed two runs on three hits in five-plus frames. He fanned five and walked five in the start. The Ridgeland, Miss., native has struck out five-plus batters in six of his seven starts this season and leads the team with 46 strikeouts.
 
Jack Bell (2) registered his second save of the campaign as he faced two in the final frame and recorded the last out. He entered the contest with the bases loaded and two outs, but was able to record the final out after allowing a walk.
 
After putting the first run on the board in its first trip to the plate, MC used a pair of hits and a Shorter error to post a four spot in the top of the second. Reese delivered the biggest blow of the frame with a two-RBI, single that pushed LaRocca and Breerwood across the dish.
 
The margin held until the Choctaws plated three in the top of the sixth before the Blue and White scored its first two runs of the game in the home half of the inning. MC added a second three-run inning in the top of the seventh to grab an 11-2 advantage heading into the final two innings.
 
Norman Leon began the rally attempt in the eighth with a two-run home run, the only one in the contest by either side. Leon wasn't done there as he drove in two of the four runs in the bottom of the ninth as he delivered a two-run, single to narrow the gap to 11-7. Jacob Pajer sent run of the game home as he drew a bases-loaded, two-out walk.
 
In the series finale, the Choctaws spotted Shorter five runs in the bottom of the first and allowed five more over the course of the following two innings to trail 10-3 after three complete frames. Vance placed the Blue and Gold on the board with a two-run, double and Beau Kirsch followed with a sacrifice fly to cap the scoring in the inning.
 
MC plated three more in the top of the fourth and trimmed the deficit to four runs as Reese lifted a three-run home run – his 10th of the season – to score Cole Drake and Breerwood. The home run placed Reese in second on the team behind Vance.
 
SU added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth as Logan Stockton punched a ball through the drawn-in, infield, scoring Leon. It marked the first run for the Hawks since the third inning as they were retired in order in the fourth and fifth.
 
Vance, Drake and Wesley Sides each logged a pair of hits. Reese led the way with three RBI while Vance drove in two.
 
CJ Lofton (1-3) was saddled with the loss on the mound as he yielded five runs on five hits along with a walk in two-thirds of an inning. He was one of four MC hurlers to toe the rubber in the contest.
 
Mississippi College makes the return trip to Henderson State University on Tuesday, March 26. MC topped the Reddies 8-7 in 11 innings earlier this season in Clinton. First pitch in Arkadelphia, Ark., is slated for 3 p.m.
  Read Full Article