CLINTON, Miss. --- Mississippi College baseball opened its weekend series with a 11-7 victory over Lee on Friday, March 13, powered behind four home runs, contributing to its 15-hit performance. MC improves to 15-10 on the season and 9-4 in Gulf South Conference action. The Flames fall to 15-8 and 7-6 in league play.
 
The Blue and Gold used a late offensive surge to pull away from Lee, securing the four-run victory after breaking open a tight contest in the final innings. The 15 Choctaw hits ties a season-high and is the most in a conference game this season. The team also finished with a season-high four doubles, registering nine extra-base hits on the day.
 
JT Thigpen led the offense by scoring four runs and collecting four hits, including a double and a triple. The four hits and four runs are a season-best for the Jackson, Miss., native. Will Langston added three hits, drove in a season-high four runs with two home runs, and scoring three times. Alex Johnson contributed with a home run, tallying four RBI and finishing with three hits. Creek Robertson added to the home run parade and drove in a run.
 
Kamryn Carlise (4-1) picked up the win in relief, pitching two frames, allowing two hits, an earned run and a strikeout. Taylor Ballard (1) closed the game, securing his first save of the season, pitching 1.2 innings, striking out three, allowing one hit without giving up a run.
 
The Choctaws struck first in the opening frame when Johnson singled to score Thigpen, but Lee responded in the second with a two-run homer from Casen Youngblood to take a 2-1 lead. Robertson evened the score with a solo home run in the third before the Flames regained the advantage on an RBI double by JJ Williams that plated Isaiah French for a 3-2 edge.
 
MC took control in the fifth inning as Thigpen tripled home Cade Gadman and Will Langston followed with a two-run homer. Johnson later scored on a wild pitch to give the Choctaws a 6-4 lead. Langston added another two-run homer in the sixth, and after Lee trimmed the deficit to two runs, Johnson sealed the win with a three-run blast in the eighth that extended MC's lead.
 
It marks the second consecutive game the Blue and Gold have scored 11-plus runs and drove in 10 or more.
 
A quartet of Flames notched multiple-hit performances led by Luke Collier, who drove in a pair alongside two hits. Mason Bratcher (1-2) was tagged with the loss, tossing 2.2 innings in relief, surrendering four runs on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
 
MC and Lee renew the series on Saturday, March 14 with a doubleheader. First pitch is Noon.
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