OXFORD, Ala. --- A late surge proved decisive as Lee erased a deficit with a nine-run eighth inning to defeat Mississippi College baseball 13-12 on Sunday, May 3 at Choccolocco Park.
The Choctaws (28-24) piled up 12 runs on 15 hits, including home runs from
Jake LaRocca and
Will Langston, and carried a five-run lead into the eighth before the Flames (36-15) flipped the game with a two-out rally highlighted by a grand slam and a two-RBI single. Langston scored four times and launched his 10th homer of the season, and LaRocca finished with two RBI on his seventh long ball of the year.
Alex Johnson led the way with four hits and driving in three.
Ty Murphy finished with three hits, three runs scored and two stolen bases while
Creek Robertson added three RBI. Â
Coby Gollott worked 5.2 innings in the start, allowing four earned runs while striking out six. The Choctaw bullpen was tagged for nine runs in the eighth, with defensive miscues contributing to the inning as Lee capitalized to seize control.
Taylor Ballard (0-2) was saddled with the loss, tossing the two-thirds of an inning.
In a high-pressure eighth inning, Lee executed a decisive rally, scoring nine runs to overturn a three-run deficit. The surge included a pivotal two-RBI single and a crucial grand slam, shifting the momentum sharply in its favor. MC's defense faltered with an error that contributed to the unearned runs during this sequence.
Earlier, The Blue and Gold had built a commanding lead through a series of productive innings. A key moment came in the fifth inning when Murphy's RBI single was followed by LaRocca's two-run homer, establishing a three-run lead. Later, in the seventh, Robertson's two-RBI single extended the lead to five, positioning the Choctaws for a potential victory.
In the ninth, the Blue and Gold threatened once more, putting runners in scoring position with no outs. However, the potential rally was stifled as Lee's defense held firm, retiring the next three batters and leaving the tying run stranded, sealing the outcome.
MC turns its hope over to the NCAA selection committee and a regional bid.
