TOUGALOO, Miss. - The Mississippi University for Women baseball team split its Friday doubleheader at Tougaloo College. With both being seven-inning games, the Owls (9-15) dropped the opener, 7-3, before bouncing back to take the second contest, 3-2.
The W's
Landon Clark continued his absolutely torrid hitting of late in the twinbill. The freshman from Tuscaloosa, Ala., was a combined 4-6 on the day – homering once in each game – while also scoring twice, driving in four runs and hitting a sacrifice fly. Just for good measure, Clark also earned a save in game two by pitching a scoreless seventh.
In game one, the trio of Clark,
Tanner Evans and
Thomas Tucker accounted for seven of the team's eight total hits between them (
Joel Estabrook had the other). Clark was 2-for-2 with all three RBI for MUW. Evans was 2-for-2 with a double, a hit by pitch and a run scored. Leadoff hitter Tucker went 3-for-3 with a walk.
Clark's sacrifice fly in the second got The W on top early. However, its bats seemed to take a three-inning siesta, with the Bulldogs posting four in the bottom of the third.
In the top of the sixth – with one out – Evans doubled to left. Then, with two gone, Clark drove a 2-2 pitch over the leftfield fence to draw the Owls to within a run, 4-3.
However, Tougaloo responded with three runs of its own in the bottom of the frame to ice the 7-3 win.
Tyler Temple (4-2) took the loss for The W. Temple went 5.0 innings, permitting five hits, four walks and four runs (three earned). He struck out three Bulldogs.
In game two, a pair of unearned runs – one each in the third and fourth – put the Owls ahead, 2-1. In the top of the sixth, Clark (2-4) popped his team-leading fifth home run (tied with
Avery Benson) to lead off the inning. Clark's roundtripper would prove to be the deciding run after the Bulldogs put across a tally in their at-bats in the sixth.
Clark then locked down the win on the mound in the seventh, for the final 3-2 score.
Zay Coleman, who came on in relief of starter
Brandon Fenimore in the second inning – recorded his first collegiate win with 1.1 scoreless innings of work.
Blake Estabrook was 1-for-2 with a double.
Joel Estabrook and
Austin Telano each had an RBI, as well.
The W will stay on the road Saturday, facing Belhaven University. The doubleheader versus the Blazers will be played at Mississippi College in Clinton, M
