No. 25 MGCCC get Gonzalez, Henley heroics in sweep

PERKINSTON — No. 25 Mississippi Gulf Coast got a clutch relief performance in one game, and a pinch-hit walk-off home run in the second Monday to sweep No. 22 Lansing at Ken "Curly" Farris Field.

Sebastian Gonzalez (Fr., Moss Point/Gautier) escaped a bases-loaded, no-out jam to earn a save in a 5-3 win, and Asher Henley (So., Vancleave/Vancleave) poked an opposite-field solo homer for a 3-2 win.

"You are talking about a kid that's grinding," Gulf Coast coach Zach Allen said. "He's done everything right, waited his opportunity, and comes out and gets that big knock. I couldn't be more proud. He's an awesome kid. I love that dude, and I'm so proud of him."

Gulf Coast improved to 15-4, while Lansing is 2-8 after losing three games at No. 3 East Central over the weekend as the opener to a long southern swing to get out of the freezing weather.

Gonzalez made his first appearance of the year count. With the Bulldogs clinging to a 4-2 lead after the Stars got a solo homer to lead off the fifth, then loaded the bases to cause Gonzalez to be called from the pen.

He got a double-play ball to third base that made the score 4-3, then another ground ball to end the threat.

"How about that?" Allen said. "He came out, hasn't had an opportunity yet this year, but he had his head down working the whole time. He gets his opportunity, comes out, gets out of a big jam, and then finishes a game for us. That's great for him, and that's huge for the team right there."

Gonzalez closed out the game, allowing three hits in three inning while striking out two without a walk. Jayden Madison (Fr., Petal/Petal) earned the win after allowing one run on three hits in four innings.

Brandon Coakley (So., Covington, La./Covington) gave Gulf Coast a 2-1 lead with a homer in the fourth, starting a four-run outburst. Collin Smith (Fr., McComb/Parklane Academy) drove in a run and then scored on a double-steal.

Henley added a vital insurance run as a pinch runner in the sixth with a straight steal of home.

He finished off another rally in the nightcap. Lansing scored twice in the sixth, but the Bulldogs answered in the bottom of the frame. Brady Saxton (Fr., Brandon/Northwest Rankin) hit a solo home run, and Garrett Gardner (Fr., Madison/Madison-Ridgeland Academy) scored on a straight steal of home with two outs.

Riley Hall (Fr., Mobile, Ala./Faith Academy) polished off what turned out to be a complete game by retiring the side in the seventh. He struck out 10 while allowing three hits, then watched Henley give him the win by sneaking a ball inside the right-field foul pole.

"I was just trying to put something hard in play," Henley said. "It didn't have to be a homer, but I was really just wanting to get on base and maybe drive something through the gaps. I've been waiting on that. I've been waiting on something to go like that. Awesome."

Gulf Coast plays in its final MACCC tripleheader Tuesday with a trip to Wesson. The Bulldogs plays No. 3 East Central in the middle game and close out the day against host Copiah-Lincoln. The games will be streamed at https://colinathletics.com/general/live_stream.

For more information on MGCCC's 12 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.