HOUSTON --- A late innings rally falls short as the Mississippi College baseball team drops the 2025 season opener, 3-2, to the University of Arkansas at Monticello in the opening game of the 13th annual Houston Astros Winter Invitational.
 
A pair of Choctaws posted a pair of hits on the day as MC out-hit the Green and White. Jordan Evans tallied two hits, including a solo home run to left center field in the seventh inning. It marks the first of her MC career. Bryce LaRocca joined Evans with two hits, including a double. The Blue and Gold totaled eight hits in the effort, doubling up the Weevils.
 
Holland Townes (0-1) was saddled with the setback on the bump. Townes tossed five innings in the start, striking out five. He allowed three runs and walked six. Kyle Collet and Coby Gollott saw action in relief. Collet fanned five in two innings of work while Gollot sat down a pair alongside a walk in an inning of action. Townes and Collet are the first Choctaws since Cooper Gadman to register five Ks in a contest. Gadman fanned five in his final Choctaw appearance at Delta State University on Apr. 27, 2024.
 
UAM jumped out the board with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning and added another in the third to hold an early 3-0 lead. The margin stood until the top of the fifth as Logan Shurden slid in at home on a wild pitch, marking the first run of the 2025 MC campaign.
 
Evans cut the deficit to a run as he launched a two-out, home run. LaRocca followed with a double to right center, but was left stranded to end the inning. MC looked to extend the contest in the ninth as Shurden drew a two-out walk, but a fly out to right field capped the contest.
 
MC left seven runners on base while the Weevils stranded nine.
 
Connor Irvine (1-0) picked up the win on the hill with two strikeouts, two walks and one run allowed in six innings. Nelson Mercado (1) logged the save as he struck out two and allowed one baserunner in two frames of relief. A quartet of Weevils recorded a hit in the contest – all singles.
 
Mississippi College returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 1 as it faces Jefferson (Pa.) University. First pitch at 5 p.m. Fans can follow the action from Daiken Park at GoChoctaws.com/coverage. There you can find live stats, pay-per-view stream (MIAA Network) and live audio with Dr. Reid Vance calling the action for Blue and Gold Media.