MCC Baseball Splits Doubleheader To Open Season

From School Reports

The Meridian Community College baseball team opened the 2015 season Saturday afternoon by hosting Alabama Southern Community College at Scaggs Field. MCC came away with a doubleheader split (6-9, 6-2) to open the season with the visiting Eagles. MCC will continue its current six-game home stand to open the 2015 season by playing host to Marion Military Institute Wednesday afternoon at 3 p.m. in a doubleheader at Scaggs Field. The Eagles will also host the 2015 Rush Invitational Tournament beginning Friday afternoon at 2:30 against Jefferson College (MO).

The Eagles saw Alabama Southern score four runs in the top of the ninth inning of Game One to secure a 9-6 comeback victory to begin the afternoon. The visiting Eagles banged out 17 hits in the four-run win, while MCC managed eight hits. MCC took a very early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a pair of long home runs. Michael Druhan got his sophomore season started in grand fashion by smashing a long solo shot over the wall in left and sophomore Scott Votaw followed with a solo homer of his own moments later in the inning.

MCC added another run in the bottom of the third inning on a solo homer by freshman Matt Berler to extend the lead from the green and white to 3-0. MCC would add yet another run in the following inning to make the score 4-0 after Berler drove in his second run of the game on a sacrifice fly. Alabama Southern would score five runs over the next three innings to take a 5-4 lead over the home team, but MCC wouldn’t show signs of quitting. MCC would score two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to regain the lead by a score of 6-5. Freshman Eason Weeks would tie the game on his first collegiate home run and Druhan would later put the Eagles ahead on an RBI single. Alabama Southern would rally in the top of the ninth inning with four runs to secure the 9-6 win over MCC. Hunter Ellenberg and Tritt Fennell each had an RBI single in the ninth for Alabama Southern.

MCC would rebound in Game Two of the doubleheader to defeat Alabama Southern by a final of 6-2. MCC got a solid pitching performance from former West Lauderdale standout Ryan Lane to secure the victory. Lane drew the start and pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowed one earned run, walked one, and collected seven strikeouts.

MCC finished Game Two with eight hits, while Alabama Southern had five hits in the nightcap. Druhan led the way at the plate in Game Two with a pair of hits and two runs scored. Freshman Jaylon Keys had a solid night at the plate in Game Two with a pair of hits and Votaw added an RBI single in the four-run win, while Berler collected an RBI on a sacrifice fly.