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Firehawks Split Twin Bill with Toppers, Tomorrow’s Game Winner Punches Ticket to SSAC Championship

Firehawks Split Twin Bill with Toppers, Tomorrow’s Game Winner Punches Ticket to SSAC Championship

BLUE MOUNTAIN, Miss. – The University of Tennessee Southern baseball team fell in game one of the twin bill with Blue Mountain Christian 16-7 and won game two 8-4 on Friday. Both teams will square off again tomorrow with the winner taking the final seed in the SSAC Championship.

GAME ONE

Blue Mountain Christian scored three in the first, three in the second, and two in the third to jump out to an 8-0 lead.

In the fourth, the Firehawks Kevin McCarthy reached on a fielder's choice scoring Landon Rogers. Josh Porter doubled to center scoring McCarthy and Noah Junker. BMCC led 10-3 after four.

The Toppers added runs in the fifth and sixth to lead 16-3 heading to the seventh.

In the final inning, UT Southern added four runs. Junker singled to right driving in Devin Buckhalter. Coleman Siniard hit a sacrifice fly to right field scoring Rogers. Blake Birdsong singled through the right side scoring Rhett Birdsong and Junker.

Josh Simmons got the start and tossed 1-2 innings. Simmons allowed five earned runs on three hits. Weston Horton tossed 1.1 innings allowing four earned runs. Cody Edwards hurled two innings allowing five earned runs. Caiden Rodgers recorded one out allowing one earned run. Preston Patterson recorded the final two outs issuing one free pass.

GAME TWO

The Firehawks drew first blood scoring one in the first. R. Birdsong singled to right center scoring Rogers. UTS led 1-0.

R. Birdsong doubled in the third driving in Rogers. UTS led 2-0 after three.

In the fourth, Trent Rhinehart doubled to left scoring Chandler Jordan. Cole Barnett tripled down the left field line scoring Rhinehart. UTS led 4-0 after four.

In the sixth, the Toppers plated three runs to trail 4-3.

In the seventh, UTS added two runs. R. Birdsong walked pushing Barnett across the plate. Porter lined out to left to score Rogers. The Firehawks led 6-3 after seven.

In the ninth, UTS added one more run. Porter singled to left scoring Junker. BMCC would score one in the bottom of the ninth.

Tray Lacy got the start and tossed six innings. Lacy allowed three earned runs on three hits. He fanned eight BMCC batters. Ridge Raper earned the three inning save. Raper allowed one earned run on three hits. Raper struck out five Toppers.

NEXT UP

The Firehawks conclude the season tomorrow with a nine inning affair with the Toppers. UTS and BMCC both are battling for the final spot in the SSAC Championship beginning May 1st, in Jackson, Tenn. The first pitch is slated for 1 p.m.

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