Bulldogs sweep Tigers

Mississippi Gulf Coast made all the seat time worth it Friday, sweeping an MACCC doubleheader at Coahoma.

The Bulldogs won 7-6 and 7-5 in Clarksdale after having driven up Thursday and returning after the games.

"You go on the road on a four-hour bus ride, and you come away with two wins," Gulf Coast coach Zach Allen said, "that's always a good thing, for sure."

Gulf Coast improved to 32-16 overall and 14-8 in conference. The Bulldogs moved percentage points ahead of Northeast Mississippi into fourth place, but the Tigers have one more win in their pocket. The top six teams avoid a play-in game to get to the playoffs.

Kaden Irving (So, Gautier/Gautier) had the big hit in the first game, a two-run homer that gave Gulf Coast a 5-1 lead. He singled in the seventh to make it 6-4, and Dom Jackson (So, Gulf Breeze, Fla./Gulf Breeze) walked to force in another critical insurance run.

Keondre Fields (So, Nesbit/Magnolia Heights) made the play of the game, though. He gunned out the tying run at the plate from right field to record the second out of the ninth inning.

"Dre has been trucking along all season when he gets his opportunities," Allen said. "He came in there and played some really good defense for us. I would've been bringing him in late and made a really good play there to nail that runner. That was huge for us."

It was his second outfield assist of the game, having doubled a runner off first earlier.

Tanner Ladner (So, Pass Christian/Hancock) had three hits, and Jacob Palazzo (So, Biloxi/Gulfport) had two hits with a double. Keilon Parnell (So., Pascagoula/Pascagoula) and Asher Henley doubled.

Eli Waters (So, Petal/Petal) picked up the win, allowing seven hits and four runs in six innings to improve to 7-3. Brayden Scott (So, Pascagoula/Pascagoula) picked up a three-inning save, his first.

Irving had three more hits in the second game, including two doubles. Jordan Davis (Fr, Neshoba/Neshoba Central) tripled, and Palazzo and Keilon Parnell (So., Pascagoula/Pascagoula) doubled.

"He's really locking in and maturing at the plate," Allen said. "He's taking breaking balls in the dirt, not chasing. That's been the case all year, if he could down the chase. He's done that and some really good barrels today."

James Vines (Fr, Clinton, La./Silliman Institute) left the game in the fifth inning but struck out seven batters to improve to 6-1. Walker Seaman (Fr, Grand Bay, Ala./Mobile Christian) struck out four in 2.2 innings of relief.

Coahoma is now 9-32, 4-18.

Next up for Gulf Coast is a midweek trip to East Central. The teams are scheduled to play Wednesday at 3 p.m., but rain may force a change.

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