Gulf Coast wins opener at MGM Park

BILOXI – Mississippi Gulf Coast rallied from a four-run deficit to win its season-opener at MGM Park, a 5-4 victory over Jackson State (Tenn.).

"Our bullpen did an outstanding job for us at holding their lead, giving us a chance," Gulf Coast coach Rodney Batts said. "Fortunately, we were able to put some things together offensively to win it."

Marcus Buckley hit a bases-loaded fly ball in the right-field corner with one out. The right fielder dropped the ball and threw Buckley out at first, but courtesy runner Andrew Ryals scored easily.

"I wanted to hit the ball in the air to try to win the game for my team," Buckley said. "Not on the ground, because if I would have hit on the ground they would have thrown it home."

The Bulldogs fell behind 4-0 with some sloppy play, but got fourth-inning, bases-loaded walks from Buckley and Ian Goff to cut the deficit in half.

Tyler Evans drove in two runs with a fifth-inning single to tie it, and the Bulldogs' bullpen shut the door the rest of the way.

Brandon Kennedy got the win by striking out the third batter in the top of the seventh, his only batter faced. Three different relievers each got an out in the frame, with the bullpen compiling 3.2 innings of scoreless relief.

Justin Nussbaum and Michael Shubert had two hits each. Shubert had a double.

Gulf Coast played the first-ever collegiate game at MGM Park. Their 5-4 walkoff win was the first 2016 game at the stadium, which opened on June 6, 2015, with a 5-4 walkoff victory by the Biloxi Shuckers over Mobile.

The Bulldogs had practice at the park the first time Tuesday, trying to get the shock and awe out of their systems. It didn't quite get them all out, but the adjustment seemed to be complete by the end of the fourth inning for the club.

"It was nerve-wracking at first," Buckley said, "but after the first couple of pitches, I shut it down."