TAMPA — Mississippi College gave the top-ranked Tampa all they could handle for six innings, but a late surge lifted Tampa to a 12-2 win Saturday, May 17 in the NCAA South I Regional at Tampa Baseball Field.
 
MC (35-22) matched Tampa hit-for-hit early and trailed by just two runs heading into the seventh inning, but a six-run frame by the Spartans broke the game open and ended the Choctaws' upset bid.
 
Designated hitter Beau Kirsch led the way for the Blue and Gold, going 2-for-4 with an RBI single in the eighth inning to cap a multi-hit night. Bryce LaRocca and Korey Cooper each added two hits for the Choctaws, who couldn't convert enough of their opportunities into runs.
 
Mississippi College got on the board in the third inning when JT Vance delivered a sacrifice fly to bring in LaRocca and cut Tampa's early lead to 2-1. They later added a run in the eighth when Kirsch drove in Kelby Jordan, who had entered as a pinch runner.
 
Blake Gollott (5-1) took his first loss of the season, battling through 2.1 innings in which he allowed two runs — only one earned — while walking five. The Choctaws used six pitchers in total.
 
Tampa (46-8) used a big seventh-inning — highlighted by a three-run homer from Chris Russo — to seal the win. Sebastian Gonzalez (9-1), went the distance, striking out three and walking none in a 104-pitch complete game.
 
Mississippi College and Tampa meet in a winner-take-all regional championship game on Sunday, May 18. First pitch is 12 p.m. CT.