Vines strikes out 10 in four-hitter
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 1 |
|
Holmes Community College | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | X | 8 | 13 | 0 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 1 |
|
Holmes Community College | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
For the second time in as many MACCC doubleheaders to start the conference slate, No. 24 Mississippi Gulf Coast had to come back from a slow start to earn a split.
The Bulldogs followed up an 8-2 loss to Holmes in Goodman on Saturday with a 5-2 victory powered by a four-hitter from James Vines.
"Game 1, we just didn't quite match the intensity we needed getting off the bus," Gulf Coast coach Zach Allen said. "That's something we've been preaching, trying to find energy from the first pitch. It's like we're sitting there waiting to score runs instead of take care of it ourselves. Game 2, we got a good start from Vines, and we got some runs early."
The Bulldogs are 17-8 overall, 2-2 in the MACCC. Holmes is 10-13, 2-2.
Vines, a right-hander from Clinton, La., struck out 10 and walked just one while throwing a four-hitter. He needed 92 pitches in his seven-inning complete game.
"He pounded his zone again," Allen said. "He limited the freebies. He gave up a homer, but we're okay with that because nobody was one. That was big-time stuff from him."
Brady Saxton (Fr., Brandon/Northwest Rankin) had a two-run homer in the first to put the Bulldogs in front. Erimel Rosado (So., Dorado, Puerto Rico/Centennial) capped a three-run third with a two-run home run for a 5-1 lead, and the rest was up to Vines.
Rosado had two hits, as did Anthony Tanner (Fr., Hurley/East Central), who tripled. Brandon Coakley (So., Covington, La./Covington) had a double.
In the opener, Garrett Gardner (Fr., Madison/Madison-Ridgeland Academy) hit a solo homer in the first, but the Bulldogs fell behind 6-1. Asher Henley (So., Vancleave/Vancleave) was the only Gulf Coast player with two hits, and Coakley also doubled.
The Bulldogs get their first home conference games Tuesday when No. 1 East Central visits. First pitch at Ken "Curly" Farris Field will be at 3 p.m., and the games will be streamed at https://mgcccbulldogs.com/watch.
For more information on MGCCC's 12 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.
