The Southwest Mississippi Community College baseball team suffered double defeat at the hands of the visiting MACJC foe Northwest Saturday afternoon, falling 6-1 in Game 1 and 5-3 in the nightcap.
The Bears took a 1-0, first-inning lead in the opener when L.D. Coney was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame. He later scored on Duncan Cornfoot’s two out double. Three singles then allowed the Rangers to score a run in the top of the third to knot the game at 1-1.
Using two walks, two singles, a double and a hit batter, the Rangers picked up the final five runs in the top of the fifth and went on to the five-run victory.
Darian Tunstall took the loss on the mound for the Bears. Going 42⁄3 innings, he allowed six runs on eight hits and four walks while striking out three batters.
Coney and Tanner Whittington both had a double for the Bears, while Walt Aldridge and Dylan Spiers both had a single.
The Bears (17-13, 6-8) trailed 1-0 in the finale before getting on the board in the bottom of the second. Darian Tunstall singled to drive John Marcus McDowell home from third to tie the game at 1-1.
A pair of singles, a double, an error and a balk resulted in a 3-1 lead for the Rangers (20-10, 12-6) in the top of the third.
The Bears tied the game at 3-3 in their half of the fourth when Zach Giacona’s second hit of the game allowed McDowell to cross the plate and Tunstall scored on a Jarvis Warner groundout.
Two singles and a pair of errors allowed the Ranger to get what proved to be the winning runs in the top of the sixth.
Tyler Pigott pitched 61⁄3 innings in getting the loss on the mound. He surrendered five runs on 10 hits and a walk while striking out six. Kaleb Clarke had a double for the Bears.
The Bears are set to return to action Wednesday when they host the Mississippi Gulf Coast Bulldogs. The MACJC doubleheader is scheduled for a 3 p.m. first pitch.
