MCC splits at Wallace-Hanceville

The Meridian Community College baseball team’s five-game winning streak came to a close in the first game of a doubleheader at Wallace-Hanceville on Wednesday, as the Eagles lost 9-5. MCC, though, rebounded to grab a 5-4 decision in the nightcap.

MCC jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning of game one against the Lions, taking advantage of some wildness from Wallace-Hanceville. Following a single from Jordan King, Brent Tanner, Tyler Vick and Wesley Thigpen all walked, Thigpen’s coming with the bases loaded. William Beckwith followed with a two-run single.

However, the lead was short-lived as the Lions answered with four runs in the bottom of the first, all coming on a two-out grand slam. Wallace-Hanceville added four more runs in the fourth before MCC clawed within 8-5 in the fifth. Thigpen and Beckwith followed a King double to load the bases for a two-run single from Jonathan Pace with two outs.

The Lions would add an unearned run in the sixth as Jordan Faulkner took the loss, lasting just three innings. Jose Acosta relieved and lasted three innings, working for the second straight day.

“Jose pitched very well,” MCC coach Chris Rose said. “He had only thrown one inning all year before (Tuesday) and threw well there and came back with another good performance.

“I was very proud of him.”

The Eagles rebounded by taking another first-inning lead in the nightcap. Following a Corey Dickerson leadoff single, King moved him over with a sacrifice bunt and Thigpen delivered a RBI single to stake MCC to a 1-0 lead.

Once again, though, the lead didn’t last as the Lions responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning. This time, MCC would have the answer.

The Eagles put two runners on as Beckwith walked and Pace singled before Dalton Kulas drew a two-out walk. Dickerson then earned a bases-loaded walk and King drove in two with a double to give MCC a 4-2 lead.

MCC would add another tally in the third as Thigpen singled and scored on a Pace single.

Wallace-Hanceville, though, rallied back, scoring two in the bottom half of the inning off starter Jason Judge. Jared Cavenaugh relieved with runners on second and third and two out. After walking the first batter he faced, Cavenaugh got out of trouble with a strikeout. In 4 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, the sophomore right-hander allowed three hits and the lone walk while striking out five.

The Eagles who are 30-14 overall and 6-3 in conference host Delgado in a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday before completing the three-game set with a 2 p.m. start on Sunday. Tuesday the Eagles will be at Thomasville, Ala. vs. L.B. Wallace