Irving’s bomb wins Gulf Coast opener

PERKINSTON — Kaden Irving opened the 2024 Mississippi Gulf Coast baseball season with a bang Saturday when his eighth-inning grand slam lifted the Bulldogs to an 8-7 win over Baton Rouge.

The big swing came with a full count and two outs.

"I got a slider right down the middle," Irving said. "I didn't get it as good as I should have, but it went out and that's all that matters."

The Bulldogs had to respond after the Bears scored three times in the top of the eighth. Pinch-hitter Seth Sterling (Fr., Vicksburg/Warren Central) drew a leadoff walk, and Keondre Fields (Fr., Nesbit/Magnolia Heights) followed with a two-strike single.

After a pair of flyouts, Keilon Parnell (Fr., Pascagoula/Pascagoula) walked, and Marc Stephens (So., Orange Beach, Ala./Gulf Shores) picked up an RBI single. He finished the day 3-for-4 with two RBI.

That set the stage for Irving's heroics. The freshman from Gautier joined the team over the holiday break from Ole Miss.

"We know what he's capable of," Gulf Coast coach Bob Keller said. "We've seen it a little bit in practice. We're glad he chose us."

Cade Mattison (So., Hattiesburg/Lamar Christian) got a well-deserved win after pitching the Bulldogs out of that jam in the top of the eighth. He allowed a single to the first batter, but struck out the next batter. He picked off the runner at first, then grabbed a tapper toward third bare-handed and threw the batter out.

"When you come in at the end of a ballgame like that, it's not about your stuff," Keller said. "It's about your nerves. I thought he had a really good, even keel with his emotional level. That's big in a tight ballgame."

Parnell, a Mississippi State transfer, had two hits, including a double. Coastal Alabama-North transfer Brandon Cain (So., Mobile, Ala./Baker) had a triple.

"The win means everything, especially with a lot of new guys coming in over the break," Irving said. "To see us come together as a team so quick, this team has a very bright future. We're going to have a fun time this year."

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