CLINTON, Mississippi – Host Mississippi College jumped out to a 7-1 lead after five innings and then turned back a Lee rally in the seventh inning in posting a 7-4 victory over the Flames on Friday evening at Frierson Field.
The loss dropped the Flames to 11-13 overall and 5-7 in GSC play. The Choctaws improved to 9-15 and 4-6. The two squads will return to the diamond again on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. Eastern for a doubleheader.
"The big inning early hurt us. We had a few opportunities offensively, but they played great defense and were able to minimize any threat we had. We just simply have to play better overall tomorrow," commented Coach Mark Brew after the long day ended.
The Choctaws tallied three runs in the bottom of the first inning and took advantage of a pair of walks and an error before Cody Crifasi delivered a key single. A single run in the third made it a 4-0 game, before the Flames got on the board in the fourth. Cam Suto singled, stole second and scored on a one-base hit by Justen Freeman.
Mississippi College countered right back with two more runs in the bottom of the fourth to make it a 6-1 contest and Choctaws got their final run in the bottom of the fifth on a solo homerun by Caleb Reese. The Flames fought back in the top of the seventh. With two outs, Nate Bynum doubled. Thomas Zazzaro singled and collected an RBI, scoring Bynum. Brandon Daniels delivered another hit and Dylan Standifer ripped a triple down the right-field line that plated Daniels and Zazzaro.
Lee outhit the Choctaws 9-8. Freeman and Bynum had two hits apiece to lead the way. Luke Hughes joined Zazzaro, Daniels, Standifer and Suto with the Flames' other hits.
Reese and Crifasi were the Choctaws leaders with two hits. Reese drove in a pair of runs. Joseph Cuomo was the starting and winning Mississippi College pitcher. He hurled 6.2 innings, allowing eight hits, four earned runs, walking two and striking out six. Jackson Smith picked up the save. In 1.1 innings he did not allow a hit and struck out one.
Miguel Alba (1-1) was the starting and losing Lee pitcher. He worked five innings and gave up five hits, six earned runs, walked four and struck out six. Greyson Linderman had two solid innings. He allowed three hits and no runs. Sean Casteel finished the mound work and struck out both batters he faced.
