MCC splits with Faulkner

By Jamey Lanier
special to The Star

The up-and-down start of the 2008 baseball season continued Saturday at Scaggs Field as the MCC Eagles split a pair of games with visiting Faulkner State to even their record at 5-5.

Despite the .500 record Eagle's coach Chris Rose isn't panicking.

"We just need to get some two-out hits, there's no doubt that we can hit the ball," said Rose. " Today the walks killed us, we just need to make some plays."

The Eagles pounded the Sun Chiefs 10-3 in the first game of the doubleheader with solid hitting and a pitching performance from freshman left-hander Jason Judge.

The former Lake Hornet pitched six strong innings and rang up five strikeouts in a performance that had to make Rose feel better about the remainder of the season.

"Jason pitched good, six strong innings and Graham Upshaw did good in relief,"said Rose.

Drew Snider led the hit parade for Meridian, going two-for-three with a double and three RBI. Tyler Vick added two hits and two RBI followed by Scott Mosley's two-for-four, double and two RBI. Josh Demoney chipped in two hits and an RBI. Judge ran his record to 1-0.

Meridian took an early lead in the second game getting a 2-0 lead before the boys from Bay Minete, Al., took advantage of a breakdown in Eagle pitching to claim the lead at 4-2 after four innings.

Ian Sharp took the loss for Meridian to put him at 2-1 on the year.Tyler Koelling was three-for-four at the plate and Shannon Steed added an RBI single. Jarrod Parks and Snider each had RBI doubles.

The Eagle's return to action Sunday when they will play host to Pensacola at 1:00 p.m