OXFORD, Ala. --- Mississippi College baseball dropped its opening game of the 2026 Gulf South Conference Championship as West Florida used a balanced offensive attack and a strong start on the mound to defeat the Choctaws 8–1 on Saturday, May 2 at Choccolocco Park.
MC (28-23) was limited to four hits and scored their lone run in the ninth inning, while the Argonauts (36-13) tallied 15 hits, including five doubles and a home run.
Jake LaRocca led the Blue and Gold at the plate, going 2-for-4 with an RBI, while
Ty Murphy scored the team's only run after drawing a walk in the ninth. It marked the eighth two-hot contest for the Lake Charles, La., native and his ninth multiple-hit game of the season.
Caleb Peterson (5-5) took the loss, allowing five earned runs on eight hits over 6.1 innings with four strikeouts.
UWF opened the scoring in the second inning and steadily built its lead, highlighted by a solo home run from Tanner Taylor in the seventh. Colton Dorsey (7-0) earned the win with seven shutout innings, allowing just one hit while striking out four.
The loss marked the second postseason meeting between the programs, with the first coming in 2017. The two squads have split the four meetings this season.
MC continues play in the GSC Championship at 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 3 against Delta State or Lee.
