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Southwest Mississippi Community College

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Bears clinch spot in MACJC state playoffs with split at Co-Lin

By: Michael D. Gunnell, Southwest Sports Information
Brady Anderson
Natalie Davis

Baseball | 4/28/2015 9:19:00 AM

Box Score---Game 1
Box Score---Game 2

With their post-season hopes still alive, the Southwest Bears rebounded from an 8-4 game-one loss at Co-Lin Monday night to get a 10-9 win in the nightcap as the MACJC regular season came to a close.
 
The win locked up eighth place in the MACJC for the Bears and guaranteed them a spot in the upcoming state playoffs. With their win in game one, Co-Lin retained possession of the Coca-Cola Baseball Challenge trophy.
 
Bases-loaded walks to Brady Anderson, Dylan Spiers and Tanner Whittington resulted in a 3-0 lead for the Bears in the first inning of the nightcap Monday. Co-Lin answered with three runs in the bottom of the first and three more in the second to take a 6-3 lead.
 
Whittington led off the Bears' third inning with a line-drive double to left field. He moved to second on Anderson's base hit and before scoring on an error. Anderson advanced to second on a balk and scored on an error that put Reed James on base. James later scored on the first of Walt Aldridge's two base hits to tie the game at 6-6. Co-Lin then responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame to go back on top 8-6.
 
With Co-Lin on top 9-6 in the top of the sixth, Ross Buckley reached on a one-out single, his fourth hit of the game, and raced home on Trent Gordy's double to left field. Whittington followed with a double to right to allow Jesse Pittman (on base for Gordy) to score and Spiers sent Whittington racing home with a double of his own to tie the game at 9-9.
 
The Bears scored the winning run in the top of the seventh when Jarvis Warner led off with his second hit of the game, a double to left field, moved to third on L. D. Coney's groundout and crossed the plate on Aldridge's sacrifice fly.
 
Co-Lin had the tying and winning runs on base with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, but Cliff Hurst retired the only batter he faced to end the game and send the Bears to the playoffs.
 
Jade Whitten pitched just over two innings, giving up only one hit and a walk while striking out three, to pick up the win for the Bears. Hurst was credited with a save. Buckley had two doubles in the game while Aldridge also had a double.
 
"They never quit, they never gave up" said Southwest head coach Ken Jackson of his team. "They gave themselves an opportunity late in the game (to win it) and obviously to make the playoffs."
 
"Obviously, making the playoffs is (contributable to) our players," Jackson went on. It's been a marathon with 28 (conference) games and they survived the marathon. It's difficult for them, sometimes, to fight through things. But, they've overcome a lot of adversity throughout the year and this is a situation  where they've worked hard (and) persevered through it and now they have the opportunity to do something that a lot of teams don't have the chance (to do)."
 
The Bears were down 3-0 in the opener before getting on the board in the top of the sixth. Duncan Cornfoot's second hit of the game scored Warner from second (he was on as a courtesy runner for Aldridge who had doubled). A fielder's choice that put Anderson on base allowed Gordy to score. Then, with two outs, a botched pick-off attempt allowed Anderson and Spiers to score and put the Bears on top 4-3.
 
Unfortunately, the lead did not last as Co-Lin tied the game at 4-4 with a run in the bottom of the inning. They added another in the seventh and three more in the eighth and went on to pick up the win.
 
Sam Richard took the loss on the mound, giving up four runs (three earned) on seven hits and a walk. He also struck out a batter.
 
Spiers had two hits in the game while Anderson, Buckley, Coney and Gordy each hard a single.
 
The Bears will begin the best-of-three opening round of the playoffs Friday at 6:00 with a rematch against top-ranked Hinds. Game two will be Saturday at 1:00 followed by game three, if necessary. All the games will be played in Raymond. The Bears swept Hinds in their doubleheader two weeks ago.
 
"It's a situation where our kids have an opportunity to beat one of the top teams in the country," Jackson said of the rematch against the Eagles. "I think it's a monumental challenge for them, but I think it's a challenge they're up for. Obviously, they realize in their mind that they can win being that we've done it before. But, it's a big challenge for them and it's something we're excited to accept."
 
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