Mississippi Gulf Coast opened MACJC play Sunday with a sweep at Coahoma, running its win streak to nine games.

The Bulldogs won the first game in Clarksdale 17-2 in six innings, then closed it out with a 7-3 win.

Tyler Hoffman improved to 2-3 with a second straight strong outing. He struck out five and walked one, allowing just one earned run on six hits.

"Hoffman gave us a really good effort," Gulf Coast coach Rodney Batt said. "He threw really well, had good stuff. He threw a complete game in a shortened game, which always helps saving your bullpen going into Game 2."

Ike Williams (So., St. Martin/St. Martin) went 2-for-3, including a home run for the third straight game, and scored five times. Tanner Estill (So., Petal/Petal) had three hits, and Cullan O'Shea (So., Mary G. Montgomery/Mobile Ala.) had a double, a triple and five RBI.

Alden Davis (So., Pascagoula/Pascagoula) and Dee Hawthorne (Fr., Harrison Central/Gulfport) had two hits.

In the second game, Miller Hancock (So., East Webster/Maben), Dee Hawthorne (Fr., Harrison Central/Gulfport), Castor Lee (So., Gulfport/Gulfport) and Fisher Ray (So., George County/Bruce) had two hits each. Both of Lee's hits were doubles, and Hawthorne had a triple and a double.

"We had a lot of big hits, a lot of clutch hits with men in scoring position," Batts said. "We had a lot of two-out hits. It was a good day. Any time you go on the road in this conference and win two, it's a good day."

Truitt Smith (So., Stone/Wiggins) picked up his first win of the season by scattering six hits in five innings, allowing three runs. Kole Kittrell (So., Greene County/State Line) struck out three in the final two innings.

"Just having to use those three guys is big," Batts said. "With these games on Sunday, and to turn around and play two tough games on Tuesday, to use three guys is always big. We need as many arms as we can going to play a really tough opponent."

MACJC play continues then with another road trip, this time to Decatur to play East Central. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. Gulf Coast plays it first home conference doubleheader Saturday when Holmes visits at 2 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.

Don Hammack
Sports Information Director
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College