CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College baseball team opened its home slate in fashion as the Choctaws (2-2) walked it off, 3-2, behind a JT Vance two-run, single in the bottom of the ninth. It marks the second come-from-behind victory in as many games for the squad.
 
The Blue and Gold loaded the bases in the ninth with one down and Vance, who delivered the go-ahead hit last weekend against Arkansas Tech University in the Houston Astros Winter Invitational finale, strolled to the plate and drove an 0-1 pitch through the right side to score Jordan Evans and Logan Shurden.
 
Evans and Shurden were two of three Choctaws with multiple hits in the effort as Alex Johnson joined the duo with two hits in the contest. Vance accounted for the lone two RBI effort and Bryce LaRocca drove in the other MC run.
 
Coby Gollott (1-1) picked up his first win of the season as he tossed 2.2 innings in relief. He fanned three, allowed one hit and walked a pair in his appearance. Holland Townes tossed 6.1 frames in the start and struck out nine, allowing two runs on hits and paired with two walks. It is the second time during his career he struck out nine in a game as he matched the feat against Auburn University at Montgomery on Feb. 23, 2024.
 
The 12 combined strikeouts give the Choctaw hurlers their third game this season with 10-plus and matches the season high set in the season opener against the University of Arkansas at Monticello.
 
The two teams matched up in a pitcher's duel for the first five frames, deadlocked at 0-0. The Nighthawks broke through in the sixth with a run and added another in the top of the seventh to take a 2-0 lead. Bryson Stripling placed the Blue and White on the board with a solo home run and Brady Skipper scored an inning later on an Edwin Bowman sacrifice fly to left field.
 
LaRocca pinned the Choctaws' first run on the board in the seventh with a double down the left field line, plating Shurden, and cutting UNG's lead in half. After a scoreless eighth for both squads, Shurden drew a one-out walk on six pitches and Evans singled to extend the threat with two on. LaRocca loaded the bases as he was hit by a pitch in a five-pitch at-bat, setting up the dramatics for Vance.
 
The Blue and Gold totaled nine hits in the effort, out hitting UNG by three. It marks the third time this season the offense has out hit its opponent this season and the second straight.
 
Mississippi College and North Georgia renew the series on Saturday, Feb. 8 at Frierson Field. First pitch is 2 p.m.