Timely Hitting was Key as Choctaws Comeback to Defeat #2 Tampa

Down 3-0 in the 6th inning and with only three hits to their name thus far, the Mississippi
College Choctaws (6-11) rallied late to defeat #2 Tampa (12-3) by a 4-3 margin.

Facing Caleb Jacobs for MC, E.J. Cumbo doubled to right field in the top of the 2nd to
get the scoring going for Tampa with Nico Saladin with a sacrifice fly to increase the lead to 2-0
in that same inning. Later, Saladin slapped a solo home run in the top of sixth to put the score at
3-0. However, this would be the last run of the ball
game for Tampa.

In the bottom of the same inning, Caleb Reese sent a solo blast to left field for his 9th home run of the seas
error by Tampa’s second baseman Drew Erhard on a
double play attempt. In the same inning, Jordan Rollins
singled the first to tie up the game at 3.

In the ninth, Brandon Gardner stepped up to the mound for MC after the Choctaw’s relief
pitcher Kyle Collet allowed a lead off walk. MC got the inning’s first out with Rhett Birdsong
gunning down a stolen base attempt to third. Gardner delivered on the next two batters for Tampa
with a routine fly and ground out.

In the bottom of the ninth with one out, Jaron Harris and McCare Houston both reached
aboard with a walk and hit by pitch respectively. Immediately after, Birdsong walked to load the
bases. A Cody Crifasi sacrifice fly was all the Choctaws
needed to pick up the 4-3 victory, as their win was their
second ranked win in the past week.

For Tampa, Paul Sullivan got the loss, sending his record to 0-2. Brandon Gardner
improved his record
to 2-0 with his
clutch ninth inning
performance.
 After the game, head Coach Jeremy Haworth said that he “was really proud of the
pitching staff today, especially Brandon [Gardner]. A lot of people would be rattled and scared
coming in against one of the best teams in the country, but he delivered for us. And I was proud
and glad for him to see the reward for his efforts with the sac fly right after.”
On his walk-off sacrifice fly, Cody Crifasi said: “All I knew was that if I just put it in
play, then there’s a good chance we get somebody in. It was just a great feeling to deliver for this
team and I’m just so proud of the way we fought back today.”

Sunday’s rubber match to decide the series will be at noon Sunday.