CLEVELAND, Miss. --- Mississippi College baseball used a decisive sixth-inning rally to pull away from Delta State and claim a 10-7 win on Saturday, Apr. 25 at Ferriss Field, earning its first victory in Cleveland since 2018. The Choctaws (27-22, 20-12 Gulf South Conference) dropped the opening game of the twinbill 8-2.
 
MC erased a brief setback after the Statesmen (27-18, 20-12 GSC) tied the game at 6-all in the fifth with two unearned runs. MC responded immediately in the sixth, beginning with a leadoff double from JT Thigpen. Tyrus Williams brought him home on a sacrifice bunt before Jake LaRocca delivered the game's biggest swing, launching a three-run home run to push the lead to 10-7.
 
The Choctaws set the tone early, capitalizing on defensive miscues in the first inning. Alex Johnson followed an error with a two-run homer, his 13th of the season, to give the Choctaws a quick advantage. LaRocca added an RBI double in the third as MC continued to apply pressure.
 
Johnson finished with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored, while LaRocca powered the offense with a homer, double and four RBIs. Ty Murphy scored three times and added a stolen base, and Creek Robertson chipped in with two hits, including a double, and two RBI.
 
Coby Gollott started on the mound for the Blue and Gold, allowing five runs - two earned - over four innings while striking out five. Dylan Cope (5-0) earned the win in relief, giving up two runs - one earned - across three innings with two strikeouts.
 
Delta State was unable to mount another comeback after the Choctaws' sixth-inning surge.
 
In the opening game of the day, the Choctaws were held scoreless through seven innings as the Statesmen used a decisive seven-run fourth to take control. DSU strung together a combination of hits, walks and an MC error to load the bases before Henley Parker's three-run home run highlighted the inning and pushed the lead to 7-0.
 
MC broke through in the eighth inning. Will Langston reached on a walk, stole second and later scored on a fielder's choice by Tyler Sanderson. Williams, who drew three walks on the day, also scored in the frame on an RBI groundout from Johnson to trim the deficit to 7-2.
 
The Green and White answered in the bottom half with an RBI single from Austin Batts to account for the final margin.
 
Langston led MC's efforts on the bases with a run scored and a stolen base while Sanderson recorded an RBI.
 
Peyton Charles delivered a strong relief outing, tossing a season-high four innings while allowing just one earned run and striking out three. Connor Pittman (2-4) made his first start since Feb. 24 and took the loss, surrendering five earned runs over three innings. Tyler Swann worked one inning in relief before Charles closed out the game.
 
The two teams will conclude the series Sunday, Apr. 26 with first pitch set for 1 p.m.
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