Keller’s walk-off blast sets Bulldogs up for split

PERKINSTON — Charlie Keller's dramatic walk-off home run earned Mississippi Gulf Coast an 8-7 win in the Saturday opener against East Mississippi at Ken "Curly" Farris Field, but the Bulldogs had to settle for a split.

The Lions won the nightcap 6-2.

Gulf Coast (14-18, 7-7 MACCC) was in control most of the first game and led 6-2 going into the eighth inning. East Mississippi (17-17, 5-9 MACCC) scored six times to surge ahead.

After a three-up, three-down eighth, Sean Smith (So., Pascagoula/Pascagoula) blistered a single into left field to lead off the ninth. One out later, Charlie Keller (Fr., Mobile, Ala./Mobile Christian) came to the plate.

He turned on a 2-2 pitch and blasted a no-doubter over the right-field wall for the win. It was his 16^th homer, the most in the country.

Blake King had a great start over 7.1 innings. He allowed just three hits and three earned runs, striking out six and walking three. Nate Anderson (So., Poplarville/Poplarville) couldn't hold the lead in the eighth, but retired the side in order in the ninth to earn his second win of the season.

Smith homered in the third inning, his 13^th for second-most in the NJCAA, and also doubled to finish 3-for-4. Jayden Mark (Fr., Petal/Petal) and DJ Walker (So., Brandon/Brandon) each had two hits including a double.

In Game 2, Gulf Coast took a 2-1 lead after two-out RBI singles from Mark and Ty Mancha (Fr., Albuquerque, N.M./Mobile Christian) in the fourth.

East Mississippi tied it up in the fifth, then got four across in the sixth.

Levi Odom (Fr., Brooklyn/Sumrall) pitched well in his first start of the season, going 3.1 innings and allowing just one run on four hits. Gulf Coast maned just five hits.

The Bulldogs travel to Decatur on Tuesday to play East Central. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. 

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