HOUSTON --- The Mississippi College baseball team fell to Jefferson (Pa.) University, 10-7, in the team's second game of the Houston Astros Winter Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 1 as the Rams (2-0) put together a surge in the latter innings.
 
Bryce Capobianco paced the Choctaws (0-2) with a multiple-hit, multiple-RBI effort. The Saltillo, Miss., native added a walk and a run to his ledger. Jordan Evans joined Capobianco with a multi-hit campaign, including a double – the only extra-base on the book for the Blue and Gold. It marked his second multi-hit performance of the season. Blaise Breerwood joined Capobianco with multiple RBI in the contest.
 
Coby Gollot (0-1) received the setback as MC sent a platoon of hurlers to the mound. He allowed three runs on three hits in 1.2 innings of relief. He marked the fourth Choctaw in relief upon his arrival and the fifth in the contest. Caleb Peterson drew the start and tossed 3.1 frames, allowing three runs – two earned - on three hits. He walked five and struck out four in the debut. The pitching unit combined for 14 walks and 10 strikeouts in the effort. It is the second 10-plus strikeout performance for the pitching staff.
 
MC jumped on the board early as it plastered a four spot in its first trip to the plate. Capobianco and Blaise Breerwood drove in two runs each in the frame on singles. Jefferson nipped into the lead as it one in the second and added two more in the third. The Choctaws took a two-run lead in the fourth and sixth innings as JT Vance and Korey Cooper each collected an RBI.
 
JU took its first lead of the game in the top of the seventh, headlined by a two-run, pinch-hit home run from Justin Espinal. The Rams added a run in the eighth and two more in the ninth as Joshua Lopez drove in two runs with a single to left center.
 
The Choctaw mounted a rally in the bottom of the ninth as Beau Kirsch and Breerwood drew back-to-back walks. Banks Hyde, who pinch ran for Kirsch, scored on an Evans sacrifice fly, but that completed the run total for the Blue and Gold on the night.
 
Mississippi College returns to action on Sunday, Feb. 2 as it takes on Arkansas Tech University in the final game of the Invitational First pitch from Daikins Park is 5 p.m.