MGCCC baseball splits with Southwest

MGCCC catcher Patrick Kirkland attempts to throw a runner out at second base during a recent game this season.

Bulldogs preparing for huge weekend series with Pearl River

SUMMITT---A doubleheader split at Southwest isn’t what Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College wanted Apr. 13. Then again, a 7-9 MACJC South Division record heading into the home stretch of the season isn’t what first year head coach Gary Rath wanted either.

“The South Division in baseball has been a dogfight all spring and will continue to be so until the very last weekend,” Rath said.

Against the Bears, Gulf Coast dropped game one 8-1 but rebounded to win the nightcap 11-2 as Jeremy Simmons went 2-for-4 with 3 runs scored while Brandon Cavataio had a 2-for-4 outing with 2 RBI and 3 runs scored. Trey Porter and Nick Purdy also had two hits in the game two victory while pitcher Sean Kennel gave up one run over five innings and struck out two.

The Bulldogs (21-12) host archrival Pearl River (18-19, 9-7) Apr. 17 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. It’s the first of five straight home doubleheaders for the Bulldogs after spending the majority of the season on the road. Four of those five doubleheaders are against MACJC South Division foes.

“We are battling to stay in the race and rely on the last four division series to come through Perkinston,” Rath added. “Hopefully, we can get our ‘bus legs’ out of the way and enjoy a little home-field advantag