PENSACOLA, Fla. — Mississippi College exploded for 12 runs over the final three innings to run away with a 12-1 victory over West Florida in the second game of Saturday's Gulf South Conference doubleheader, earning a split at Jim Spooner Field.
After dropping the opener 5-3, the Choctaws (27-19, 17-13 GSC) bounced back behind a dominant performance from starter
Gabe Garner and a relentless offensive onslaught to hand the Argonauts (29-16, 19-10) their first home loss in conference play since March 28, snapping a six-game run and its first home setback in nine contests.
Garner (5-3) tossed five shutout innings, allowing just one hit while striking out two and walking two, gaining his team-leading fifth victory of the season. The right-hander set the tone on the mound while MC's bats came alive late.
The Choctaws were held scoreless through four innings before erupting for five runs in the fifth, highlighted by
Jordan Evans' two-run double and
Bryce LaRocca's RBI single. They added four more in the sixth and three in the seventh to cap the blowout.
LaRocca drove in three runs on two hits, while
Logan Shurden added a 3-for-5 effort with three RBI. Evans scored three times and added two RBI and a stolen base.
MC finished with 12 hits and took advantage of three hit batters and four walks by the West Florida bullpen.
The Argos managed just one hit in the nightcap and avoided the shutout with a bases-loaded walk in the seventh. Starter Justin Heath (4-3) took the loss after allowing five earned runs in 4.1 innings.
In the opener, the Argonauts built a 4-0 lead behind a two-run homer from Colton Easterbrook and held off a late Choctaws' rally for the win. Easterbrook went 3-for-4 with two RBI, while starter Kaleb Mandersch (4-3) struck out six over eight strong innings. Brett Thomas earned the save – his first of the season.
Evans led the team with three hits in the affair while LaRocca and
Blaise Breerwood added a pair.
Caleb Peterson (3-4) took the setback, going 7.2 frames in the start with six strikeouts and five runs on 11 hits.
Mississippi College returns to action on Tuesday, April 22 as it travels to Monticello, Ark., for the final non-conference tilt of the regular season. First pitch against Arkansas-Monticello is 2 p.m.