Pitching leads the way in Bulldogs sweep

PERKINSTON — Mississippi Gulf Coast pitchers struck out 23 batters in a doubleheader sweep of Illinois Central on Sunday at Ken "Curly" Farris Field.

The Bulldogs won the opener 5-1 and the nightcap 3-1. Blake King struck out 10 in a three-hitter, Sam Mansell struck out nine in 6.1 innings of middle relief and Adam May earned a save with four strikeouts in two innings.

"This was a great day on the mound," Gulf Coast coach Bob Keller said. "Our pitching dominated. It's about pitching and defense. I don't think we committed an error. Our defense has been really solid."

Gulf Coast (6-6) got solo home runs in the first game from Charlie Keller (Fr., Mobile, Ala./Mobile Christian) and Sean Smith (So., Pascagoula/Pascagoula). They are tied for the lead in NJCAA Division II with eight homers. Smith is fourth with 25 RBI.

King (Fr., Petal/Petal) was good from start to finish, allowing the three hits and three walks. A second-inning rally that started with two outs culminated with Blake Roberts (Fr., Petal/Petal) delivering a two-run double for all the offense King would need.

Keller homered in the third, the Bulldogs scratched across a run in the fourth on a wild pitch, and Smith jacked his shot in the fifth.

"Blake King threw his sliders for strikes, and it was just a really competitive day for him," Keller said. "He was really composed on the mound. We got a few timely hits, and Blake Roberts delivered a two-out hit with the bases loaded to get us going. And we got a couple of big knocks from Charlie and Sean."

In the second game, Mansell got the call from the bullpen early. After a third walk loaded the bases with two outs, he got his first strikeout to end the threat. He allowed just two singles and two walks.

"He gave us super stretched-out long effort," Keller said. "He's been good for us in the field. He's been a really nice pickup."

The Bulldogs took advantage of three throwing errors by Illinois Central (3-6) in the second to score a run. That would be the margin for Mansell until the eighth, when the Cougars loaded the bases with nobody out.

In came May (So., Magee/Magee), who got the first batter to hit a chopper to Keller at third. He scooped and force the runner at home. May got his first strikeout, then fielded a comebacker for the third out.

He got three more strikeouts in the ninth, allowing a two-out RBI double for the only blemish.

"Adam May looks like a new guy this year," Keller said. "That's them being composed and locating pitches. They executed, and we had some big plays in the field at the end of the game. There were a lot of fireworks, and you just have to win the next pitch. I'm super proud of the team today."

Gulf Coast travels to Ellisville on Wednesday for a rivalry three-way day. The Bulldogs play host Jones at noon followed by No. 1 Pearl River at 3 p.m.

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