CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College baseball team split the Gulf South Conference-opening doubleheader with the University of West Alabama. The Choctaws (5-4, 1-1 GSC) took the night cap with a 3-1 victory after the Tigers (5-6, 1-1 GSC) claimed the opening game 4-2.
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Korey Cooper led the way at the plate, collecting three hits over the twinbill, including a double. He also drove in a run. The offense was scarce as MC totaled seven hits in the two games with four coming in the Blue and Gold victory.
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The Choctaws jumped on the board early in the second game, plating a pair of runs. After
Bryce LaRocca scored on a UWA throwing error,
Bryce Capobianco accounted for the second run scoring on a ground out.
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Blake Vineyard cut the lead in half in the top of the fourth, but the Blue and Gold extended the lead back to two runs as
Banks Hyde scored on a
Beau Kirsch sacrifice fly to center field and proved the difference as MC evened the series.
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Caleb Peterson (1-1) picked up the win on the bump, going five innings. He allowed the lone Tiger run on three hits as he struck out six and walked five in the start.
Jack Bell (2) logged his second save of the season, recording the final out.
Coby Gollott tossed 1.2 strong innings in relief, holding the Red and White scoreless, fanning three and giving up four hits.
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In the opener,
JT Vance placed the Choctaws on the board in the bottom of the second with a solo home run to center field. It marked the second home run of the season for the Union, Miss., native and his first since Feb. 8 against North Georgia.
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The Tigers answered with two runs in the third and plated two more in the fourth to gain a three-run lead. The margin stood until the bottom of the eighth, when the Blue and Gold loaded the bases with two outs as
Jordan Evans was hit by a pitch.
Bryce LaRocca followed with a bases-loaded walk to push
Tyler Jacobsen across the dish. However, the Choctaws left the bags full.
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Holland Townes (0-2) took the setback on the mound, tossing eight innings. He struck out eight in the start, while allowing four runs on five hits alongside five walks.
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Mississippi College and West Alabama conclude the series on Saturday, Feb. 15. First pitch is 12 p.m.
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