MERIDIAN, Miss. – The Meridian Community College Eagles made a statement at Scaggs Field on Tuesday, sweeping nationally ranked No. 21 Mississippi Gulf Coast in a thrilling conference doubleheader. With the wins, the Eagles improve to 18-10 overall and 5-1 in MACCC play heading into this weekend's road series at Mississippi Delta.
Eagles Walk It Off in 13-Inning Marathon, 9-8
Meridian opened the doubleheader with a dramatic walk-off victory in the 13th inning. Freshman Connor Gehr delivered the game-winning hit, singling home the winning run to seal the 9-8 win.
The Eagles pounded out 17 hits in the high-scoring affair. Gehr led the offense, going 3-for-6 with 2 RBIs, while Tyrus Williams, Doby Bartling, and Hampton Ross also recorded three hits each. Bartling smashed a double and drove in a run, while Ross added an RBI single.
Meridian rallied in the eighth inning with key hits from Brayden Martin (sacrifice fly), Nate Trochessett (RBI single), Bartling (RBI double), and Brennon Wright (RBI double) to even the score and extend the game.
On the mound, Cole Blackwell struck out seven in his start, while Vaiden Ellis worked 3.2 innings of relief, striking out five. Aiden Tuura earned the win with a shutout appearance in extra innings.
Fowler Dominates as Eagles Complete the Sweep, 3-0
Sophomore Peyton Fowler was electric in the nightcap, tossing a complete-game shutout with 12 strikeouts and allowing just two hits in seven innings of work.
Meridian broke through in the fifth inning when Wright laced a two-run single to give the Eagles the lead. Wright finished 2-for-3 with 2 RBIs to pace the offense. Harlin Hovater added insurance in the sixth inning with a towering solo home run to right field.
Defensively, the Eagles were flawless, turning two double plays and committing zero errors.
The sweep lifts the Eagles into a strong position in the conference standings. Meridian will hit the road Saturday, March 22, for a doubleheader at Mississippi Delta Community College. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. in Moorhead, MS.
