No. 25 Bulldogs split during MACCC tripleheader

PERKINSTON — No. 25 Mississippi Gulf Coast had a comeback to win its first game in Tuesday's MACCC tripleheader at Ken "Curly" Farris Field, but the Bulldogs had to settle for a 1-1 day after losing big in the nightcap.

The Bulldogs beat Southwest Mississippi 5-4 in the opener, riding the strong performance by right-hander Riley Hall, but they lost 18-7 in seven innings to Holmes to close out the day.

Gulf Coast is 10-3 after playing its eight games in seven days. The three teams split their games, with Holmes leaving Perk 4-5 and Southwest 7-4.

Hall (Fr., Mobile, Ala./Faith Academy) settled down after giving up three runs in the first two innings. He retired 13 straight starting in the third, and sat down 18 of his last 19 batters. Hall finished with eight strikeouts in eight innings, allowing four hits and three walks.

Gulf Coast started its comeback in the fifth when Tripp Lightsey (Fr., Lucedale/George County) had a straight steal of home to make it 3-1.

Brady Saxton (Fr., Brandon/Northwest Rankin) hit a line drive homer in the sixth to score Jordan Davis (So., Neshoba/Neshoba Central), who had walked. Garrett Gardner (Fr., Madison/Madison-Ridgeland Academy) gave the Bulldogs the lead when he stole third and the throw went into the outfield.

Anthony Tanner (Fr., Hurley/East Central) tacked on a much-needed insurance run in the seventh with a sacrifice fly. Tanner had two hits, and Layton Eder (So., Vancleave/Vancleave) doubled.

Wade Barr (So., Collins/Seminary) struck out the game's final batter to earn his second save of the season.  

Gulf Coast fell behind 14-1 after the top of the fourth but got two back in the fourth. Garrett Gardner (Fr., Madison/Madison-Ridgeland Academy) clubbed a grand slam in the fifth to cut the deficit to 14-7, but Holmes scored four in the seventh to close out the game.

Davis had two hits, as did Collin Smith (Fr., McComb/Parklane Academy), who drove in two runs.

Gulf Coast will get to catch its breath with a couple of days off before a tough stretch of opponents. The Bulldogs travel to Niceville, Fla., to play a doubleheader against Northwest Florida State, ranked 20^th in the NJCAA Division I poll. Tuesday sees the Bulldogs traveling to Poplarville for another MACCC tripleheader against No. 2 Pearl River and No. 14 Jones.

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