CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College baseball team rallied over the final three frames to open the 2024 campaign with a 6-5 victory over Emmanuel University on Thursday, Feb. 1 at Frierson Field at Dickins-Scoper Stadium.
 
The Choctaws received multiple-hit efforts from Wesley Sides and Caleb Reese to help lead the offensive charge as the team compiled 10 hits on the day. Tyler Jacobsen notched the lone multi-RBI effort as his two-run home run in the eighth pulled the Blue and Gold to within a run and helped the set drama for the final inning.
 
Cooper Gadman (1-0) logged the victory on the mound as he tossed the final two frames in relief and limited the visiting Lions to two hits and recorded two strikeouts in eight batters faced.
 
Clifford Brown (0-1) suffered the defeat as he toed the rubber over the last two-thirds of an inning. He allowed two runs – both earned – on two hits with three walks in the appearance.
 
Back-to-back singles in the top of the ninth from Sides and Cole Drake began to swell the excitement in the ballpark and an intentional walk two batters later loaded the bases with one down. DK Donaldson recorded his first RBI wearing the Blue and Gold as he drew a pinch-hit, walk to knot the contest at 5-all.
 
With the bases still juiced MC newcomer Blaise Breerwood strolled to the plate to second the Choctaw faithful home in joyous spirits. The Poplarville, Miss., product and former Pearl River Community College Wildcat drew the second bases-loaded walk of the inning to plate pinch-runner Jordan Rollins and seal the come-from-behind victory.
 
EU tallied two runs in its second trip to the plate and added a run each over the next three frames to take a 5-0 lead through six and half innings. Limited to just four hits through the first six innings, Caleb Reese recorded his first of the game in the bottom of the seventh and placed the homestanding Choctaws on the board with a solo home run. The blast pulled the Bossier City, La., native to within two home runs of the career second slot and was his first since Apr. 4, 2023 at Union.
 
The Choctaws added another run three batters later as Sides lifted a ball into left field to score Korey Cooper and narrow the deficit to three runs. After blanking the Lions in the top of the eighth, the Blue and Gold added a second two-spot in the home half of the frame on Jacobsen's homer.
 
Mississippi College and Emmanuel return to the diamond on Friday, Feb. 2 for the second game of the four-game series. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.
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