MCC Baseball Splits Conference Doubleheader With MDCC

From School Reports

The Meridian Community College Eagles returned to the diamond Tuesday afternoon after playing nine consecutive road games to play its first MACJC home doubleheader of the 2015 season against Mississippi Delta Community College. The Eagles would come away with a doubleheader split (9-8, 5-6) against the Trojans that saw both games go into extra innings.

MCC moved to 13-8 overall for the season and 3-3 in league play, while Mississippi Delta is now 9-12 overall and 3-1 in league play. MCC will continue its current eight-game home stand this Saturday with another MACJC doubleheader against Itawamba Community College. The twin bill is set for a 2 p.m. first pitch at Scaggs Field.

The Eagles opened the doubleheader with Mississippi Delta by winning in dramatic fashion in Game One with a 9-8 victory that would come in extra innings. Sophomore Dustin Smith did the honors in the one-run win by collecting the RBI single to give the Eagles the incredible walk-off victory. MCC carried an 8-3 lead into the late stages of the game, but Mississippi Delta would chip away to send the game to extra innings.

Kyle Bayles had a solid day at the plate in Game One for the Eagles by going 3-for-3 with four RBI’s, while Matt Berler would add three hits and a run scored for the Eagles in Game One. Michael Druhan added a pair of hits and two runs scored, while Dustin Smith added a pair of singles. Freshman Eason Weeks would also provide some power with a solo homer in the game as well.

Sophomore Bryant Johnston picked up the pitching win in relief by working two scoreless innings out of the bullpen.

MCC wasn’t as fortunate in Game Two as Mississippi Delta scored two runs in the top of the eighth inning to escape with a 6-5 victory. MCC was able to scratch one run in the bottom of the eighth inning, but was unable to score a runner at third base to potentially tie the game.

Freshman Hunter Mullis suffered the loss on the mound in relief for Meridian, while Tyler Dowdy picked up the win out of the bullpen for Mississippi Delta. Dalton Thomas led the way at the plate in Game Two with a pair of hits and an RBI, while Matt Berler also added an RBI single. Kyle Bayles also chipped in with an RBI.