Bulldogs drop Qualifying Series opener at Hinds

RAYMOND — Mississippi Gulf Coast will look back at Thursday's opener in the NJCAA Region 23 Qualifying Series and rue the slew of runners left on base.

The Bulldogs lost to Hinds 4-1 while leaving 10 runners on base. They face a must-win game Friday in the best-of-three series, which sees the winner advance to the Region 23 Tournament.

"We hit some balls hard, but at the same time, we've got to do a better job at capitalizing with runners in scoring position," Gulf Coast coach Bob Keller said. "We had an opportunity in the third inning with a runner at third, and we had an opportunity in the eighth inning with the bases loaded. We punched out a little bit too much with two strikes. We've got to have a better approach."

Game 2 will start at 4 p.m. It will be streamed at https://hindsccsports.net/channel-1/. Fans must buy tickets using a credit card, and they are for sale at https://sports.hindscc.edu/sports/2020/10/6/athletic-events-tickets.aspx.

Luke Reed (So., Louisville, Ky./Holy Cross) allowed just three earned runs before having to be released because of a blister on the finger of his pitching hand. JC Stogner (So., Sumrall/Sumrall) blanked the Eagles over the final 2.1 innings.

Reed struck out six and walked one, which came on his final batter when his finger caused him to sail a couple pitches to the backstop.

"It was an unfortunate situation with Luke and his finger splitting open," Keller said, "so it's a little bit of a letdown for the team when he has to come out earlier than we wanted to."

Hinds scored single runs in the first three innings, with Kade Carpenter (Fr., Vancleave/Vancleave) doubling in a run in the third inning for the Bulldogs. He got cut down at the plate on a contact play on a ground ball.

Carpenter had two of the Bulldogs' five hits, as did Brendan McCauley (So., Gulfport/Harrison Central).

There was a 30-minute rain delay in the sixth with the Bulldogs (20-24) down 4-1, but they came back in the eighth and loaded the bases with one out against a new relief pitcher thanks to three walks.

But Hinds (27-17) brought in another reliever who got a strikeout and flyout to end the threat, and the Bulldogs couldn't muster anything in the ninth.

"It's not like we played really bad, we just let some opportunities get away from us," Keller said. "Hopefully tomorrow we can regroup and come back and get these guys. We need to put together a better effort at the plate."

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