Eagles Split MACCC Tripleheader, Upset No. 2 Pearl River

Meridian, Miss. — The Meridian Community College baseball team endured a long day at Scaggs Field on Tuesday, falling in the opener to Northwest before responding with a statement 7-1 victory over No. 2 Pearl River in non-conference MACCC action.

With the split, the Eagles move to 7-1 on the season.

Game One: Eagles Fall In Opener

Northwest (5-3) struck early in the first inning with a three-run home run to seize momentum.

Meridian answered in the bottom of the fourth when freshman Brayden Allen roped a double to left-center field, driving in three runs to tie the game at 3-3.

The Rangers regained the lead in the fifth on a solo home run and continued to add insurance runs down the stretch while limiting the Eagles to four hits on the day.

Sophomore Joel Smith took the loss, pitching five innings and allowing four runs on five hits while striking out three.

Offensively, Allen led Meridian with three RBIs, while Brett Busbea, Harlin Hovater, Graham Jackson, and Allen each recorded a hit.

Game Three: Strong Pitching and Offensive Spark Powers Upset

After Pearl River (10-3) defeated Northwest in the middle game of the tripleheader, the Eagles regrouped for the nightcap against the nationally ranked Wildcats.

Meridian wasted no time making noise. Freshman Cambridge McDaniel launched a three-run home run in the first inning to give the Eagles a 3-0 lead and set the tone early. Pearl River answered with a solo shot in the second, but that would be the only run Meridian allowed all evening.

The Eagles added one run in the third, one in the fourth, and two in the fifth to create separation.

Sophomore Thomas Mitchell earned the win, allowing one run on two hits over four and one-third innings while striking out five. Conner Moore followed with two and two-thirds innings of scoreless relief, striking out three and closing out the Wildcats.

Meridian collected 10 hits in the win, with McDaniel driving in three runs. Hovater, Jackson, and Nate Trochessett each tallied two hits, while Eli Swearingen ignited the crowd with an RBI triple and Matthew McKinley drew three walks as the Eagles showed patience at the plate with seven total walks.

The Eagles were also clean defensively, committing no errors behind their pitching staff.

Head coach Dillon Sudduth was proud of his team's response after dropping the opener.

"We didn't play our best baseball in the first game, but our guys stayed locked in," Sudduth said. "To bounce back the way we did against a very good Pearl River team says a lot about this group. They stayed focused, trusted each other, and competed for seven innings. That's the kind of response you want to see."

Meridian will wrap up the week at Scaggs Field when they host 7th-ranked Southeastern Community College.

Follow MCC Athletics on X (@mcceaglessports), Instagram (@mcceaglesathletics_), and Facebook (Meridian Community College Athletics) for updates, photos, videos, and more.