MCC Baseball Splits Set With Baton Rouge

From School Reports

The Meridian Community College Eagles returned to Scaggs Field Friday afternoon to take on Baton Rouge Community College in frigid conditions and came away with a doubleheader split (0-8, 2-0) with the Bears. MCC moved its overall record to 6-4 with the doubleheader split, while Baton Rouge moved its record for the season to 7-7-1. MCC was scheduled to play Coahoma Community College Saturday afternoon in a doubleheader, but the games have been postponed to a later date. MCC will now return to the field February 25 on the road at Alabama Southern in a doubleheader scheduled for noon. The Eagles will return to Scaggs Field March 2 against Spring Hill College for a twin bill beginning at 3 p.m.

Baton Rouge scored seven runs in the top of the seventh inning of Game One to run away with an 8-0 victory to open the doubleheader with MCC. The Bears completed the game with 10 hits, while MCC finished with five hits overall. Former West Lauderdale star Daniel Hill led the way at the plate in Game One with a pair of singles for the Eagles. Scott Votaw, Dalton Thomas, and Trace Hamby each added a single in the game as well. Andrew Crook suffered the tough loss on the mound for MCC in Game One by working 4 2/3 innings and collecting a pair of strikeouts. John Schaffer pitched a complete game shutout for Baton Rouge and had a pair of strikeouts in the effort.

MCC rebounded in Game Two of the doubleheader behind freshman starting pitcher Josh Rich who went the distance for the Eagles in the 2-0 victory. Rich pitched a complete game shutout for the Eagles and came away with eight strikeouts in his first collegiate victory.

MCC scored both of its runs in the bottom of the fourth inning which would be more than enough for the two-run win. Goose Yates drove in the first run for MCC on an RBI double off the wall in left field and Michael Druhan would give MCC a little insurance with an RBI single moments later. The two runs were scored in the inning with two outs for the green and white. MCC finished the game with five total hits and Baton Rouge was held to just three. Matt Berler, Dalton Thomas, and Scott Votaw each added one hit apiece in the Game Two victory.