Gulf Coast win streak stopped at 6

BILOXI – Mississippi Gulf Coast got enough pitching to overcome a lack of offense Tuesday in a non-conference split against Alabama Southern.

Four Bulldogs pitchers combined for a two-hitter and Michael Shubert slugged a fourth-inning home run to win the first game at MGM Park 1-0. Gulf Coast managed only four hits in the second game and lost 5-0 to end a six-game win streak.

"We didn't come to the ballpark with our heart and our energy we normally have," Gulf Coast coach Rodney Batts said. "That's what this team is going to have feed off of. We're not talented enough to just come out and play."

Gulf Coast is now 16-7. The Bulldogs will take a 6-2 MACJC record to Holmes on Saturday. The doubleheader in Goodman starts at 1 p.m.

Alabama Southern is 10-22.

Mason Sullivan picked up the win for Gulf Coast in his first decision of the season. He went four innings, striking out four and allowing only one hit.

"Mason came in and threw great," Batts said. "He gave us just we needed. He hasn't pitched in a while and hasn't pitched a lot. But he's kept himself ready."

Brandon Kennedy earned his fifth save with a scoreless seventh. He struck out two.

Alabama Southern didn't get a base runner until a leadoff single in the fifth. Joseph Gennaro pitched out of his bases-loaded jam in the sixth by getting a double-play grounder.

Gulf Coast managed only four hits in the second game for a total of seven over 14 innings.

"There's no one thing," Batts said. "I thought our swings were tired looking. I don't know why that is, coming off a long weekend. We just didn't have the same approach at the plate, the same aggressiveness."

Gulf Coast's next home game will be played next Tuesday at William Carey College in Hattiesburg. The Bulldogs will play Jones County in a doubleheader starting at 4 p.m.