Eagles drop close one at home

By Robby Atkinson / Special to The Star
The Meridian Star

MERIDIAN — The Meridian Community College Eagles contiuned its early season struggles as Jefferson College scored two runs in the top of the eighth inning to complete the weekend sweep of the Eagles by a final score of 9-8. The loss is the sixth straight for MCC and three of the loses to Jefferson College came by one run each.

"Our mistakes contiune to hurt us," said MCC head coach Chris Curry. "We got swept by a great team this weekend and hopefully we can fix a few of our mistakes and rebound with some big games on the schedule this week."

Jefferson (4-0) struck first in the game with a run in the top of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead over Meridian. Drew Levi provided the early spark for the Vikings with an RBI single to left field that gave Jefferson College the early edge over MCC. The Eagles responded in the bottom of the second inning with a pair of runs to take its first lead of the game by a score of 2-1. The Eagles scored both of its runs in the bottom of the second inning on a throwing error by Jefferson College.

The Vikings took the brief lead away from MCC with a pair of runs in the top of the third inning to make the score 3-2. Fred Ford drove both runs in for the visiting Vikings on a two-run single to left field to give Jefferson College a one-run lead.

The Eagles kept the game tight in the bottom of the third with another run to tie the game at 3-3. Hunter Trawick drove the third run of the game in for the Eagles on a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Kenny Roberts who reached on a double to get the inning started for MCC. The Eagles took the lead once again in the bottom of the fourth inning on a lone run to make the score 4-3. Former Clarkdale standout Kasey Hinton continued his hot hitting as the freshman second baseman drove the run in on an RBI single to left field for the Eagles.

Jefferson College would not go away as the Vikings drove in three more runs in the top of the fifth inning to take the lead once again by a score of 6-4. Two of the runs scored on a two-run home run by Levi and the third run scored in the inning on an RBI single by Casey Goss. MCC tied the game in the bottom portion of the fifth inning to make the score 6-6. The Eagles scored both of its runs in the inning on another wild throw in the infield by the Vikings to tie the game for the second time.

The Eagles took another brief lead in the bottom of the sixth inning to make the score 7-6 in favor of Meridian. MCC scored its one run in the sixth inning on a dropped fly ball by the Vikings that plated a runner from second base. Jefferson College contiuned to put pressure on Meridian with another run in the top of the seventh inning to tie the game once again at 7-7. Goss drove in his second run of the contest on an RBI single to tie the game for the third time.

Jefferson put the game away for good with a pair of runs in the top of the eighth inning to make the score 9-7. Kyle Leslie drove both runs in for the Vikings on a single to left field to give Jefferson the lead for good. MCC scored one final run in the bottom of the eighth inning on a single by Trawick to make the final score 9-8.

MCC ended the game with 13 hits and was led by Johnny Tolson with a game-high four hits and Dustin James added a pair of hits in the loss for the Eagles.

Meridian (8-7) returns to action Tuesday against Bossier Parish Community College. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Scaggs Field.