Bulldogs split, stay tied for 6th

Mississippi Gulf Coast once again split an MACCC baseball doubleheader Tuesday, beating Jones 3-1 in the opener before falling 8-0 in the second.

It's a remarkable ninth conference doubleheader split in nine tries this season for the Bulldogs (14-19). They remain tied for sixth in the league with Jones (22-12) and Northeast Mississippi.

Gulf Coast got a great outing from Adam May (Fr., Magee/Magee) in the first game. He allowed just three hits over 6.1 innings, striking out six and walking one.

"Adam May was just spectacular," Gulf Coast coach Bob Keller said. "He had good location on his fastball and was able to locate his offspeed just enough to keep them off balance. I thought he pitched with a lot of conviction today."

Jesse Johnson (So., Purvis/Purvis) allowed one hit over the final 2.2 innings to pick up the save.

Alex McWhorter (So., Semmes, Ala./Faith Academy) had a two-out, two-run double in the third, which was all Gulf Coast would need. Sean Smith (Fr., Pascagoula/Pascagoula) singled in a run in the fifth to make it 3-1. 

McWhorter, Brendan McCauley (So., Gulfport/Harrison Central) and Kade Carpenter (Fr., Vancleave/Vancleave) had two hits each.

The Bulldogs appeared poised for a sweep with ace Luke Reed on the mound, but he had a rare off day. The Bulldog bats managed only five hits.

"We hit a lot of balls hard on the screws with nothing to show for it," Keller said. "Time to move on to our next opponent."

Gulf Coast returns home Friday for a doubleheader against Holmes. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m., but monitor the website and social media outlets for changes due to expected wet weather late in the week.

For more information on MGCCC's 10 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.