By Staff
from staff reports
POPLARVILLE Meridian Community College received a wake-up call in the opening game of the MACJC State Baseball Tournament on Thursday.
The No. 3-seeded Eagles (37-8) overcame a 3-0 deficit to capture a 5-4 win over the No. 4-seeded Copiah-Lincoln Community College Wolves (28-15).
With MCC trailing 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning, Eagles left fielder Josh Morgan hit his team-high 14th home run of the season. The two-run shot knocked Co-Lin's lead down to 3-2.
The Eagles took a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning. MCC second baseman Kyle Ginn led off MCC's half of the inning getting hit by a pitch, and shortstop Michael Murray and center fielder Toddrick Johnson each hit one-out singles to load the bases.
MCC designated hitter Aaron George drove in Ginn with a single, and Morgan, who went 2-for-3 with three RBIs, brought home Murray with a sacrifice fly to right field for a 4-3 advantage.
Eagles third baseman Van Pope drove in Johnson with a single to take a two-run lead.
MCC's Chris Moffett, who relieved starter Chad Catalano in the top of the seventh, gave up just one run in 2 1/3 innings of work to take the win.
Moffett allowed one run on six hits with two strike outs to improve his record to 6-0. Co-Lin notched its lone run off the Eagles relief pitcher in the top of the eighth inning on an RBI single from Diego Nucete.
Co-Lin took a 2-0 in the top of the first inning, scoring one run on a bases-loaded walk and another on a wild pitch. The Wolves went up 3-0 in the top of the fourth, notching a run on a MCC error.
Casey Ginn, who is MCC's Kyle Ginn's twin brother, went 4-for-5 for Co-Lin. Kyle Ginn went 1-for-2 and scored once.
MCC will play the winner of the game between Pearl River and Mississippi Delta at 7 tonight in the double-elimination tournament. Co-Lin will take on the winner of the game between Itawamba and Hinds at 4 p.m. today.
Tony Krausz