By Staff
From staff reports
March 25, 2001
The Meridian Community College Eagles got off to a good start in New Orleans Saturday by deflating Delgado 13-4 in the first game of their Miss-Lou doubleheader.
With the game tied at four after a pair of lead changes, the Eagles exploded for a huge nine-run seventh inning that served to put the game out of reach.
DCC committed four errors in game one and only managed four hits.
Adam Smith came on in relief of Martin LaRocca and improved to 3-1 on the season, as he got the victory.
Smith did so in part to some clutch late hitting on the part of the Eagles. Dustin Cliburn, Chris Knight and Tyler Scarbrough each swatted doubles, with Scarbrough getting two.
Lance Dawkins blasted a home run and Matt McCleskey and Travis Garner put up three singles between them.
The big seventh inning sent Delgado's Brandon Kling to the loss column.
Delgado 5, MCC 1: Delgado struck back in the second game, as two runs in the first inning proved to be all they would need to salvage the split.
Chris Bourgeise handcuffed the Eagles, giving up just four MCC hits.
The Eagles made an error, and Delgado posted two gaffes, but it didn't matter because the bottom of the third saw the home team bring home three scores to add to the eight-hit production. The lone Eagle run came in the top of the seventh.
Knight, McCleskey, Cliburn and Rory Thornton each clipped singles to account for the Eagle hits.
The Eagles (19-9, 1-1) will complete the three-game set today at 1 p.m. when head coach Russ McNickle will send out Jason Wimberly to the mound.
East Mississippi 4, Mississippi Delta 3: Don't look now, but the Lions might be putting something positive together.
EMCC captured its third win in five tries by edging out the Trojans in Moorhead.
Steve Oglesby broke through to gain his first victory of the season, against four losses, by striking out eight and walking two, while scattering six hits.
Ben Carver come on and got his third save by getting the last two outs in the midst of the sacks full of Trojan batters.
The Lions' four runs came from RBIs by Jared Andrews, Trey Wall, who slapped a double, Chris Ball (double) and Ken Morrison. Scooba led 2-0 after their first two at-bats. It stayed that way until the Lions tacked on two more in the top of the fifth.
That's when the Trojans woke up, scoring three runs over the next two frames before the thrilling ending.
Neither team executed well defensively, as the Lions made four gaffes, compared to three errors by MDCC. The Lions collected a total of seven hits.
EMCC (4-14, 2-3 in North Division) was unable to complete the second game with MDCC. The game was halted in the top of the sixth due to darkness.
It will be completed when the Lions host the Trojans later in the year.