BLUE MOUNTAIN, Miss. – No. 19 Tennessee Southern dropped a pair of SSAC road games Saturday, falling in a twin bill at Blue Mountain Christian.
Blue Mountain Christian 6, Tennessee Southern 5 (8 Inn.)
The Firehawks jumped out early before a back-and-forth battle ended in extra innings.
UT Southern struck first in the opening frame as Lindsey delivered an RBI single and McCain followed with an RBI single to give the Firehawks a 2-0 lead.
Blue Mountain answered in the second with three runs, but UT Southern regained control in the fifth. Lindsey worked a walk and King delivered a go-ahead two-run home run to put the Firehawks back in front at 4-3. Later in the inning, McCain singled and came around to score on Cook's sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 5-3.
The Toppers chipped away with a run in the fifth and tied the game in the seventh to force extras.
UT Southern had a chance in the eighth, but could not push across a run. In the bottom half, Blue Mountain capitalized on an error and a walk-off hit to secure the 6-5 win.
McCain led the offense with two hits and an RBI, while Bodily added two hits. King finished with a home run and two RBIs, and Lindsey recorded a hit, two runs scored, and an RBI. Hall and Gilreath each added a hit, and Cook drove in a run.
In the circle, Gilbreath went the distance, allowing six runs (five earned) over seven innings.
Blue Mountain Christian 7, Tennessee Southern 2
The nightcap saw UT Southern battle early before a big inning swung momentum.
After three scoreless innings, the Firehawks broke through in the fourth. McDaniel singled and later scored on King's RBI single to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Blue Mountain answered with a run in the fourth and broke the game open in the fifth with a four-run inning.
UT Southern added a run in the seventh as McCain singled and later came around to score, but the Firehawks could not close the gap.
McCain led the offense with two hits, while King added a hit and an RBI. McDaniel recorded a hit and scored a run, and Ernest contributed a pinch-hit single. Cook added an RBI, and Bodily and Pettie each reached base.
In the circle, Lindsey took the loss, while Boozer provided scoreless relief over the final innings.
Tennessee Southern returns to action Friday, April 17, hosting No. 13 Mobile.
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