MCC Baseball Takes Series Over Delgado

From School Reports

Jonathan Youngblood delivered an RBI single in the bottom of the tenth inning to propel MCC to a dramatic 4-3 victory over Delgado to clinch its Miss-Lou Conference series with the Dolphins. MCC improved to 20-11 for the season and 2-1 in Miss-Lou Conference action, while Delgado fell to 18-8 and 1-2 in conference play.

MCC jumped on the scoreboard first with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning to grab a 2-0 lead. Johnny Tolson reached base on a two-out single and Wade Wass followed with a thunderous two-run home run to give the Eagles the two-run lead. Wass now has 15 home runs for the season which leads the team and the NJCAA. The Eagles extended its lead in the bottom of the fourth inning to make the score 3-0. Former Meridian High standout Dallas Hannah led the inning off with a single and later scored on a base hit by Samuel Peterson to give MCC the three-run edge.

Delgado answered with a run in the top of the fourth inning to cut the MCC lead to 3-1. Sophomore Sean McMullen led the off with a solo home run over the wall in right field to bring the Dolphins to within two runs. The Dolphins continued to battle back and were able to tie the game at 3-3 in the eighth inning. Daniel Brockhoeft led the inning off with a double and later scored on a triple by Logan Jones to make the score 3-2 in favor of MCC. Brady Williamson was able to drive in Jones from third base moments later on an RBI groundout to tie the game at 3-3.

Both teams had several opportunities in the final inning, but MCC was able to close out the game in the bottom of the tenth inning. Hannah led the tenth inning off with a walk and advanced to second base moments later on a sacrifice bunt by Charles Morton to put a runner in scoring position for Meridian. Tyler Dixon followed by reaching base on an intentional walk and former West Lauderdale star Dustin James reached first base on walk to load the bases for Youngblood.

The Dolphins made a pitching change and called on Corey Thomas to try and silence the MCC rally, but Youngblood would give MCC the biggest hit of the weekend. Youngblood hit a sharp groundball just past the glove of second baseman Brady Williamson to score Hannah from third base to give the Eagles a 4-3 victory over its Miss-Lou Conference nemesis.

Michael Manley (3-2) picked up the pitching win in relief by working 2.2 innings and not allowing one run. Brandon Smith started on the mound for the Eagles and worked into the eighth inning and finished the game with nine strikeouts. The Eagles finished the game with 10 hits and

Delgado had nine hits in the final game of the weekend. Youngblood, Wass, and Peterson led the way with two hits apiece for Meridian. Hannah scored twice in the game and Morton added a double for the Eagles.

Jones led Delgado with three hits and Tony Fortier-Bensen added a pair of hits in the loss for Delgado.

MCC will return to action Tuesday on the road at Shelton State beginning at 2 p.m. The Eagles will return to Scaggs Field next weekend for another Miss-Lou Conference series against Baton Rouge Community College. The series with the Bears will begin Saturday with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. and the final game of the weekend will be Sunday at 1 p.m.