CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College baseball team fell 7-5 to Valdosta State University in the Gulf South Conference series opener on Friday, Apr. 5 at Frierson Field at Dickins-Scoper Stadium. MC moves to 14-18 on the season and 6-13 in league play. VSU improves to 18-12 and 11-8 in the conference.
 
Five Choctaw recorded multiple hits in the effort as the team logged 14 on the night. Luis Alcantara paced the squad as he collected a pair of hits and drove in a team-best two runs. Bryce LaRocca, Korey Cooper, JT Vance and Caleb Reese all joined Alcantara with two hits apiece. Reese, LaRocca and Blaise Breerwood added RBI.
 
Holland Townes (3-4) was saddled with the setback on the bump. The MC starter tossed 5.2 frames and allowed five runs – four earned – on seven hits. He also surrendered four walks and fanned one in the outing.
 
VSU opened the contest with four runs through its first two innings, but were outscored 5-3 over the following seven frames. However, MC couldn't find the go-ahead hit as it trailed by a run during three of the final four frames.
 
Alcantara started the rally attempt in the bottom of the fifth as the Blue and Gold plated two in the frame to narrow the deficit to two runs. The Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, native singled up the middle to scored LaRocca for the Choctaws' second run of the game. He later scored on a Vance ground out to close the gap.
 
LaRocca drew the home team to within a run as lifted a sacrifice fly into right field that scored Cole Drake in the sixth. After VSU extended the lead back to a pair of runs in the top of the eighth, the Blue and Gold struck again as Alcantara singled to center field, scoring Cooper and moving LaRocca into scoring position, but the Lake Charles, La., product was left stranded.
 
The Black and Red added an insurance run in the top of the ninth as Hunter Stowe delivered an RBI double to extend the margin back to two runs. MC attempted a late rally in the bottom of the frame as Wesley Sides connected for a two-out, double down the left field line, but was left standing at second – one of nine runners left on base in the contest for the team.
 
Raynel Ortiz (3-0) collected the win on the mound as he tossed 3.1 innings in relief. He allowed two runs on four hits, alongside a walk and strikeout. Nick Ferrara (4) garnered his fourth save of the season as he worked the final inning with two strikeouts and one hit allowed.
 
Mississippi College and Valdosta State close out the series on Saturday, Apr. 6 with a twinbill slated to start at 1 p.m.