CLINTON, Miss. --- Mississippi College baseball secured a pair of decisive, Gulf South Conference victories on Friday, March 27. The Choctaws (19-14, 13-7 GSC) toppled Valdosta State 13-7 in the opening game of the series and 14-1 in the night cap.
 
The Friday sweep lands the Blue and Gold its 11th consecutive, home series victory.
 
MC racked up 15 hits and stolen a season-high seven bases on the way to the series-opening victory. The seven swipes are the most since Feb. 23, 2020, against Quincy.
 
JT Thigpen led the Choctaws at the plate with three hits, including a triple, and drove in a season-high four runs for his eighth game with multiple RBI, while Cade Gadman added two hits, two RBI, and scored twice. Alex Johnson contributed three RBI, and Creek Robertson scored three times as MC piled up runs across the middle innings.
 
After surrendering an early three-run homer in the first inning, the Choctaws answered with a five-run second to take control. The teams traded runs through the fifth before the Blue and Gold pulled away with a three-run sixth and added insurance late.
 
Blake Gollott (2-0) earned the win in relief, tossing five shutout innings while allowing just two hits and striking out five. Starter Caleb Peterson allowed seven runs over four innings.
 
In the second game, the Choctaws piled up 16 hits and recorded their 10th game this season with double-digit runs, building a 10-0 lead through two innings. Will Langston led the offensive surge with a season-high four hits and three RBIs, while Gadman and Robertson each added three hits and two-plus RBIs. Ty Murphy also contributed three hits, including a double, and swiped two bases, moving to eighth on the program's single-season chart with 21.
 
MC broke the game open early behind RBI hits from Johnson, Tyrus Williams, Tyler Sanderson and Robertson, with Langston capping the eight-run first with a two-run single.
 
Cooper Cooksey (1-2) handled the rest on the mound, tossing a seven-inning complete game. The right-hander allowed one run on four hits, struck out 12 and walked three, matching the highest strikeout total in the GSC this season.
 
Valdosta State managed 11 hits in the first game, including two home runs, but was unable to overcome the Choctaws' consistent scoring throughout the game. In the second game, VSU scored its lone run in the seventh inning when Luke Flading doubled and later came home on a groundout.
 
The teams continue the series on Saturday, March 28. First pitch at 1 p.m.
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