NASHVILLE, Tenn. --- Mississippi College baseball dropped the opening game of its Gulf South Conference series at No. 11 Trevecca Nazarene, 5-0, on Friday, March 20 at Jackson Field.
 
The Trojans' (22-7, 14-2 GSC) pitching staff combined for the shutout as they held the Choctaws (16-12, 10-6 GSC) to two hits and notched 12 strikeouts. It is the first time the Blue and Gold have been shutout since Jan. 30 and the first conference blanking since March 15, 2025.
 
Cade Gadman and Will Langston combined for the two hits – both singles – while Langston added the squad's lone walk. Caleb Peterson (3-3) suffered the setback on the bump. He struck out eight in the contest, while allowing four runs on seven hits in 5.1 innings. Taylor Ballard and Connor Pittman combined for the final 2.2 frames in relief.
 
The game remained scoreless through the first three innings, with the Choctaws unable to capitalize on a walk by Langston in the first and a single by Langston again in the fourth. The Trojans took the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Cade Martin and Caleb Webster started with singles, and a sacrifice bunt moved them over. A single by Cade Moore, one of his three hits on the night, coupled with an error, allowed both runners to score, giving the Purple and White a 2–0 lead through four innings.
 
The fifth inning saw the Trojans extend their lead with solo home runs by Landon Rogers and Martin. Martin and Rogers joined Moore with a multiple-hit performance as they each logged a pair of knocks.
 
In the eighth inning, TNU added their final run. A walk and a single put runners on base, and a single by Rogers brought home pinch runner Wyatt Bowling. Despite a single by Gadman and a stolen base in the eighth, MC could not convert on any scoring opportunities.
 
Justin Lee (3-2) picked up the victory on the mound, tossing four frames in relief, striking out four and giving up a hit. Jonah Smithson struck out six in the opening four innings, allowing one hit. Ryan Sweeney closed the outing with two punch outs in the final frame.
 
The two squads close out the series on Saturday, March 21 with a doubleheader slated to start at Noon.
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