Baseball moves into winner’s bracket

No. 19 Mississippi Gulf Coast got its postseason off to a perfect start Monday in Poplarville, beating Northeast Mississippi 9-1 in a run-rule shortened game.

"Eli Waters threw a gem, and we took advantage of some walks early," Gulf Coast coach Zach Allen said. "Colby Wilson got a clutch hit for us, and Kaden Irving got a big homer."

Gulf Coast improved to 38-17 with the seven-inning win, using only one pitcher to help set up the rest of NJCAA Region 23 Baseball Tournament for the Bulldogs. They'll play the winner of Tuesday's Pearl River-Meridian game on Wednesday, but the tournament schedule is in flux because of the weather forecast.

Waters (8-3) threw a three-hitter, striking out seven with two walks. He needed just 104 pitches to do it, saving all the Bulldogs' bullpen. The only run he allowed was a fourth-inning homer.

Landon Holliman (So, Hattiesburg/Sumrall) and Jordan Davis (Fr, Neshoba/Neshoba Central) walked with the bases loaded in the second, and Jacob Palazzo (So, Biloxi/Gulfport) made it 3-0 with a sacrifice fly.

The Bulldogs took advantage of eight walks while racking up eight hits.

Colby Wilson (So, Saucier/D'Iberville) had a two-run double in the third, and Irving's 12th home run in the sixth pushed the lead to 7-1.

The Bulldogs ended it in the seventh with a run scoring on a wild pitch and Palazzo's second sac fly.

Eight different Gulf Coast players had the eight hits, including Brandon Coakley (Fr, Covington, La./Covington) and Tanner Ladner (So, Pass Christian/Hancock) in their returns from injury. Ladner's hit was a double, and Jordan Davis (Fr, Neshoba/Neshoba Central) had a double and three walks. 

NJCAA Region 23 Baseball Tournament

May 5-9

Poplarville

Monday

Play-in: No. 9 Meridian 6, No. 8 Northwest Mississippi 0

Game 1: No. 4 Gulf Coast 9, No. 5 Northeast Mississippi 1 (7 innings)

Tuesday

Game 2: No. 1 Pearl River 4, No. 9 Meridian 2

Wednesday

Game 3: Northeast vs. Meridian, 3 p.m.

Game 4: Gulf Coast vs. Pearl River, 6:30 p.m.

Thursday

Game 5: Game 4 loser vs. Game 3 winner, 2 p.m.

Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 6 p.m.

Friday

Game 7: Game 8 winner vs. Game 6 loser, 4 p.m. (if necessary)

For more information on MGCCC's 12 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.