Tanner Whittington smashed a one-out, bases-loaded double to right field in the top of the sixth inning Tuesday evening to help propel the Southwest Mississippi Community College baseball team to a 5-2 Game 2 win over the host Hinds Eagles and gain a split in their doubleheader. Hinds took the opener 7-0.
The Bears (19-17, 8-12) trailed 2-0 before scoring all of their runs in the sixth. Ross Buckley started the rally with a line-drive double down the left field line. A walk to Darian Tunstall and a single from Kaleb Clarke then loaded the bases. After Whittington’s double, he scored on Steven Williams’ second two-base hit of the game. Two batters later, Zach Giacona’s successful sacrifice bunt allowed Williams to cross the plate.
The Eagles (22-16, 14-8) put a pair of runners on base with two outs in their half of the sixth, but starting pitcher Braden Smith struck out the final batter to end the threat. In the bottom of the seventh, the Eagles put a runner on base with one out, but Clarke, on the mound in relief, struck out the final two batters to preserve the win.
Smith went six innings on the mound to get the win, allowing a pair of runs on four hits and a walk. He struck out two batters. Clarke retired three of the four batters he faced in the seventh to, surrendering one hit, to get the save.
Tunstall had two hits in the game while Brady Anderson and L.D. Coney both had a single.
The Eagles would get all the runs they would need in Game 1 with a two run homer from Chase Cockrell in the first inning. They went on to score three runs in the fifth inning and two more in the sixth to get the win.
Jacob Buchanan took the loss on the mound, giving up seven runs — six earned — on six hits and four walks. He struck out five batters.
Coney had three hits in the game with Williams getting two. Buckley also hit safely.
The Bears make their final home appearance of the season, observing Sophomore Day and Alumni Day, Saturday when they host Coahoma. Game 1 is scheduled for a 2 p.m. first pitch.
