Published: April 11, 2009 11:31 pm      

Eagles sweep Bears

Meridian Community College completed its weekend of dominance as the Eagles swept Baton Rouge, La., to take three key Miss-Lou Conference victories over the Bears.

The Eagles improved their 2009 record to 26-13 with the sweep of Baton Rouge and improved to 6-3 inside conference play.

“These were three wins that we really needed,” MCC head coach Chris Rose said. “We came out and hit the ball really well and got two really fantastic pitching performances from our starters. We have a huge week coming up and this is some great momentum heading into some big games.”

MCC will hit the road on Tuesday and Wednesday with two doubleheaders in the state of Alabama. The Eagles tangle with Northwest Shoals Tuesday beginning at 3 p.m., and travel to Wallace-Hanceville Wednesday for a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.

MCC will conclude conference play next weekend at Scaggs Field against long-time foe Delgado.



MCC 10

Baton Rouge 0



MCC got a solid pitching performance from freshman Mandella Mingo and the Eagle offense continued its great hitting in the run-rule victory in Game 1. Mingo pitched six shutout innings and collected two strikeouts in the outing for MCC.

“He did a great job of battling and getting out of some tough situations,” said Rose. “We played some solid defense behind him and it was a great job on the mound in the first game.”

The MCC offense gave Mingo plenty of run support as the Eagles scored three runs in the opening inning. Jordan King got the bats going with a single and Brent Tanner followed with a single to put a pair of runners on for Tyler Vick.

Vick reached on a single down the left field line to load the bases for MCC.

The first inning scored on a fielder’s choice by Wesley Thigpen and the next run crossed the plate on an RBI single by William Beckwith to make the score 2-0. The third run of the first inning scored on a fielder’s choice by Jonathan Pace to give MCC the three-run lead over Baton Rouge.

MCC put the game away for good with six runs in the fourth inning to extend the lead to 9-0. Kenny Sanders led the inning off with a solo home run and Corey Dickerson followed with a solo shot of his own to give MCC a 5-0 lead.

Vick added an RBI single in the inning and Beckwith picked up another pair of RBIs on a single in the six run fourth inning.

The Eagles added their final run of the game in the sixth inning on a bases loaded walk to Pace to give MCC the run rule win.



MCC 7

Baton Rouge 1



Sophomore Garrett Harris threw seven strong innings and recorded six strikeouts to finish the three-game sweep of Baton Rouge in Game 2.

The MCC offense put five runs on the board in the second inning to jump on the Bears. Three of the runs in the second inning scored on two errors by the Baton Rouge defense and Tanner drove a pair of runs in on a single in the inning for MCC.

The Eagles extended the lead in the fifth inning to make the score 6-0. Thigpen started the inning with a single and later scored on another error on the infield by the Bears to give MCC the six run advantage.

Baton Rouge (9-34, 1-8) was able to manage its only run in the doubleheader in the sixth inning to make the score 6-1. Kyle Gardere reached base on a double to left center field and later crossed the plate on a wild pitch.

MCC plated its final run in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single by Tanner to propel the Eagles to the sweep.

MCC had nine hits in the second game as Tanner led the way with three of singles for the Eagles. Dickerson and Thigpen also had two singles in the game for MCC.