Bulldogs lose twice at home

PERKINSTON — Mississippi Gulf Coast was in position to win both games of a doubleheader Friday against No. 13 Meridian, but the Bulldogs home-field problems bit them again.

The Eagles (21-8, 10-5 MACJC) came from behind in each game and won 12-7 and 6-3, the nightcap in nine innings. Gulf Coast falls to 19-9, 11-5, and they're just 6-10 at home.

Gulf Coast made four errors in the third inning of the first game to fall behind 4-0, then stormed ahead with five runs in the bottom of the frame. Alden Davis (So., Pascagoula/Pascagoula) hit a three-run homer for the big blow. Dee Hawthorne (Fr., Harrison Central/Gulfport) tied it on an RBI double before sloppy Meridian play let a run score on a dropped third strike.

Brandon Parker hit a home run in the next inning that made the score 7-4, but scored five in the sixth and two in the seventh to take control.

Parker and Ike Williams (So., St. Martin/St. Martin) had two hits for the Bulldogs.

In the second game, Gulf Coast answered a Meridian run in the third with one of its own, then played small ball in the fifth to take a 3-1 lead.

The Eagles were down to their final strike three times in the seventh before a two-run single tied it up, then hit back-to-back homers in the ninth for the win.

Miller Hancock (So., East Webster/Maben) had four hits, and Williams extended his hitting streak to 13 games.

Gulf Coast returns to action Tuesday when Baton Rouge visits Perkinston to make up a previous rained-out game. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.

For more information on MGCCC's 10 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.