Oxford, Ala. — Mississippi College baseball fell in its opening game of the 2026 Gulf South Conference Championship, losing 8-1 to West Florida on Saturday at Choccolocco Park.
The Choctaws (28-23) were limited to four hits and scored their lone run in the ninth inning. West Florida (36-13) collected 15 hits, including five doubles and a home run, to secure the victory.
Jake LaRocca led Mississippi College at the plate, going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Ty Murphy scored the team’s only run after drawing a walk in the ninth inning. The Lake Charles, Louisiana native has now played in his eighth two-hit game and his ninth multiple-hit game this season.
Caleb Peterson (5-5) took the loss for the Choctaws, allowing five earned runs on eight hits over 6.1 innings with four strikeouts. West Florida scored first in the second inning and added to its lead throughout the game, highlighted by a solo home run from Tanner Taylor in the seventh.
Colton Dorsey (7-0) earned the win for UWF, pitching seven shutout innings while allowing just one hit and striking out four. This was the second postseason meeting between the programs, with the teams splitting their four meetings this season. The first matchup took place in 2017.
Mississippi College continues its run in the GSC Championship, scheduled to face Delta State or Lee at 6 p.m. Sunday.
