Mississippi College scored four runs in the eighth inning to pull away from Delta State and win 7-4 in the series finale Sunday at Ferriss Field in Cleveland, Mississippi, according to school officials.
The Choctaws (28-22, 21-12 Gulf South Conference) took an early lead, scoring one run in the first inning and adding another on a solo home run by Creek Robertson in the second. Delta State (27-19, 20-13 GSC) responded in the third, tying the game with three consecutive hits. Peyton Badon led off with a single, and Landon Holliman and Henley Parker drove in runs with singles to even the score at 2-2.
Mississippi College regained the lead in the fourth on Robertson’s second solo homer of the game. The game remained close until the eighth, when the Choctaws capitalized on a bases-loaded situation. JT Thigpen hit a three-run triple, and Alex Johnson followed with an RBI single to make it 7-2.
Delta State attempted a late rally in the ninth, with Parker hitting a sacrifice fly and Bo Rock adding an RBI single. The comeback fell short, with the final score standing at 7-4. Parker led the Statesmen with two RBIs, while Holliman added a hit and an RBI. Walker Maranto contributed two hits, and Badon scored twice.
On the mound, Mason Shropshire took the loss, allowing three runs over five innings. Gavin McCoy pitched two innings of relief. Delta State will next play in the Gulf South Conference Championship Tournament at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Alabama, on Friday, with the opponent to be determined.
