CLINTON, Miss. --- Mississippi College baseball split its Gulf South Conference doubleheader on Saturday, April 18 at Frierson Field. MC baseball (26-20, 19-11 GSC) used a seven-run fourth inning to power past West Florida 10-7 in the opening game, securing its first series win over the Argonauts (32-13, 18-12 GSC), before dropping the finale 13-6.
 
The Choctaws broke open a tight contest in the fourth, sending 11 batters to the plate and collecting seven runs on six hits in the opening game of the day. Tyrus Williams sparked the rally after drawing a leadoff walk and later scoring on Jake LaRocca's single. Tyler Sanderson and Creek Robertson followed with RBI singles, before Robertson capped the inning with a two-run double. JT Thigpen added an RBI double down the left field line as MC built a commanding cushion.
 
Williams led the Choctaws offensively, finishing with two hits, two RBI and two runs scored. Robertson drove in two runs, while LaRocca added two hits and scored twice. MC totaled 12 hits, including four doubles and a home run.
 
Blake Gollott (3-0) earned the win in relief after facing one batter. Dylan Cope (3) closed the door with four innings, allowing one run on five hits to record the save.
 
The Choctaws grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the second when Williams launched a solo home run. UWF answered with a four-run fifth inning to trim the deficit, but the Choctaws responded throughout, including an insurance RBI single from Johnson in the eighth. The Argos threatened late but could not overcome the Choctaws' decisive fourth inning.
 
In game two, UWF used a five-run sixth inning to break open a close game. The Argonauts turned a 5-3 lead into a commanding advantage in the sixth, capitalizing on a MC error, a walk and a pair of RBI hits to extend the margin to 10-3. The Choctaws were unable to recover despite outhitting West Florida 12-9.
 
MC trimmed the deficit in the seventh inning when Kelby Jordan singled and Williams and Ty Murphy followed with hits. LaRocca delivered a two-run single as part of a three-hit day, but the rally stalled before the Choctaws could draw closer.
 
Will Langston homered in the fifth inning for MC, while Cade Gadman added a sacrifice fly in the fourth. Williams finished with two hits and an RBI, and Gadman also recorded two hits, including a double, and stole a base.
 
UWF took advantage of free passes and defensive miscues throughout, turning key opportunities into runs to maintain control late.
 
Cooper Cooksey (2-4) took the loss after allowing four earned runs while recording two outs in the start. Connor Pittman struck out three over 2.2 innings of relief, while Kamryn Carlisle allowed one run across 2.1 innings.
 
MC returns to action Tuesday, Apr. 21 with a 5 p.m. road game at Arkansas-Monticello.
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