Tigers Win First Two of Four Game Series with SEICC
Marion, AL. - The first two games of a four game series with Southeastern Illinois Community College went to the MMI Tigers by identical scores, 13-3.
Game One - Sophomore Blaine Milam took the mound for Marion in game one. The Tigers scored first off a Justin Bisharat hit; scoring Zachary Neumann and Jackson Cofer. The Falcons from SEICC cut into the lead in the second inning 2-1 behind some MMI defensive miscues. They went on to tie the game at two runs apiece in the top of third inning and then claimed their first lead in their next at-bat, 3-2. Carson McGregory earned a hit in Marion's next at-bat and scored off Mason Gilliland's single.
Bailey Tidwell relieved Milam in the fifth inning, shutting down the Falcons bats. Gilliland continued his current hot streak with another homerun to left centerfield, giving Marion a 5-3 lead.
Jonah Todd started the sixth inning with a stand-up triple. Neumann hit Todd in and the Falcons were forced to change pitchers. Jackson Cofer scored Neumann and then moved to second and third on wild pitches. Bisharat continued the onslaught with a triple of his own and built MMI's lead to 9-3. Gilliland follwed with a triple; Landon Sartain doubled in Gilliland and then scored the Tiger's final run off Todd's single.
Game Two - Game Two saw freshman Lane Dickerson get the start on the mound the Tigers. Marion took an early lead in the bottom of the first inning when Jackson Cofer scored Zachary Neumann on a deep fly ball. A homerun by the Falcons in the third inning gave the visitors momentum, leading Head Coach Matt Downs to change picthers. Sophomore Dax Winningham threw in relief of Dickerson and after three innings of play SEICC held a 3-1 lead.
James Mills started a rally in the fifth inning for Marion with a basehit and Neumann was hit by a pitch to give Cofer two runners on base. Cofer scored Mills; Neumann moved to third and Cofer to second on an outfield throw to the plate. Carson McGregory tripled during the next at-bat, plating two more runs for Marion. Logan Nix scored McGregory and then moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Tanner Wallace recorded a base hit RBI and increased the lead to 6-3. After several more walks and hit batters, Marion had plated nine runs in the inning and took a commanding 10-3 lead.
Sophomore Chad Robinson took command of the mound in the sixth inning and after walking the first batter got a double play to help squash any rally from the Falcons. Gilliland and Taylor started the inning with back-to-back hits. Gilliland eventually scored on a balk. With Taylor on second base, freshman Derrik Turner came up to the plate and hit a homerun to end the game 13-3.
The Tigers will host the Falcons in a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at the Scott G. Davis Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.