CLINTON, Miss. --- Mississippi College baseball secured an 11-4 victory over the University of Arkansas at Monticello on Tuesday, March 3 at Frierson Field. A seven-run outburst in the fifth inning was pivotal for MC (11-9) in clinching its third consecutive win in the series and 23rd overall. UAM falls to 10-7 on the season.
 
Alex Johnson led the Choctaws with two home runs and a season-high of five RBI, tallying a season-high total of four hits in the game. JT Thigpen achieved a season-high total of three hits, including a home run, and drove in two runs while also scoring twice. Cade Gadman recorded two hits, scored twice, and collected one RBI while Jake LaRocca also made his mark with a season-high of two hits.
 
Connor Pittman (2-3) garnered his second victory of the season, throwing two innings in relief, striking out three and conceding one earned run on three hits. Blake Gollott started the game for the Choctaws, pitching four innings and allowing two earned runs on a hit, while striking out five batters and walking three. Taylor Ballard, Will Daniel and Carter Wells combined for the final three innings of action, striking out four as the MC hurlers totaled 12 strikeouts in the game – the second most this season.
 
MC jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, behind a pair of big innings at the plate. The Choctaws struck first in the opening frame when Johnson launched a three-run homer to left after Thigpen singled and stole second and Langston drew a walk. MC added another run in the third on Langston's sacrifice fly to make it 4-0.
 
The Boll Weevils trimmed the margin to 4-2 in the fourth on a two-RBI double from AJ Keely, but the Blue and Gold responded with a decisive seven-run fifth inning. Langston doubled and scored on Tyler Sanderson's single, Johnson blasted his second home run of the game, and Thigpen capped the surge with a two-run shot following an RBI single from Gadman, stretching the lead to 11-3. UAM added a solo homer in the ninth, but MC closed it out to secure the seven-run victory.

Ryan Mesaris (1-1) took the loss on the mound, allowing three runs on two hits in two innings of work. He added a walk and two strikeouts to his ledger in the start. Elijah Olaybal paced the squad with a pair of hits.
 
MC returns to GSC action on Friday, March 6 as it travels to Montgomery, Ala., to take on Auburn University at Montgomery. First pitch of the series opener is 5 p.m.
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