| Gibson's game-winning homer lifts East Mississippi to baseball split at Copiah-Lincoln |
|
|
|
WESSON – Hilton Gibson’s game-winning home run in the seventh inning of Tuesday’s first game at Copiah-Lincoln lifted East Mississippi Community College to a doubleheader baseball split with the Wolfpack at Sullivan Field. After claiming their first win of the campaign 4-3 in the opener, the Lions dropped the nightcap by a 4-1 score.
The two teams traded solo tallies three different times in Tuesday’s opener before Gibson’s game-winner in the final frame provided the final margin. A sophomore first baseman from New Hope High School, Gibson’s one-out solo blast off Co-Lin left-hander Ryan Kennedy was his second home run of the year and fourth of his EMCC career. The visitors took an early 1-0 lead in the opening inning on Gibson’s two-out RBI double that plated Tyler Aldridge, who led off the contest with a single. Gibson finished the opener 3-for-3 at the plate with a pair of runs batted in and a run scored. He also walked in the third to reach base during all four plate appearances in the game – a feat Aldridge also accomplished in the first contest. A former Caledonia standout, Aldridge also singled in the third while reaching base via a hit-by-pitch and later scoring in the fifth and walking a frame later. After the Wolfpack knotted the score for the third time with an unearned run in the fifth inning, Lion freshman reliever Zane Migues retired the side in order in the sixth. The third of four EMCC pitchers used in the opener, Migues picked up the win courtesy of Gibson’s game-deciding homer in the seventh. Sophomore right-hander Kameron Heiser came in to work the seventh and pick up the save for the Lions. Sophomore starter Lance Portera threw the first two innings for the visitors, while Jake Upton worked the middle three innings. Out-hitting Co-Lin by a 10-8 margin in the opener, the Lions also received a run-scoring double by Antwan Ratcliff in the fifth inning. Mitch Bohon, Alex Chick, Noah Greer and Ismael Reyes all added first-game singles for the winners. “We obviously needed this win today, and it’s even more special coming on such a big hit by Hilton,” EMCC first-year head baseball coach Chris Rose said. “Hilton (Gibson) and Tyler (Aldridge) are really carrying us and playing very well. We just need to execute better around them to help out our pitchers.” In the nightcap, EMCC freshman left-hander Thomas Dorsey was reached for four runs and six hits through the opening two innings to pick up the loss for the Lions. Reliever Gabe Franks did come in to hold Co-Lin scoreless on just two hits over 3.2 innings. The home-standing Wolfpack took advantage of three stolen bases in the two-run first and put up another pair of runs the next frame on four consecutive singles after two outs. The Lions’ lone tally of the second game came in the first inning. Aldridge opened with a single to center and advanced on Ratcliff’s sacrifice before scoring on Gibson’s sacrifice bunt. After eight straight road outings to open the 2011 campaign, the 1-7 East Mississippi Lions are scheduled to begin their home baseball slate Saturday (Feb. 19) by playing host to reigning NJCAA Region 23 Tournament participant Pearl River CC. Doubleheader action is slated to commence at 1 p.m. at EMCC’s Gerald Poole Field on the Scooba campus. |
|
| Last Updated ( Tuesday, 15 February 2011 ) |
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|