Baseball Wins Home Opener
Marion, AL. - The MMI baseball team defeated Alabama Southern Community College 14-0 and 5-4 to sweep their home opener.
Freshman Dennis McKinley took to the mound in game one and looked sharp early, earning his first win of the season. In four innings he gave up one hit while striking out six batters. The Tigers scored once in the bottom of the first inning. Jonah Todd (3-for-4, 3R, 3 RBI) started off with a double and was sacrificed to third by Zachary Neumann (1-for-3, 1R, 2RBI). Jackson Cofer was hit by the pitcher at the next at-bat, and Carson McGregory (1-for-2, 1R, 3RBI) hit into a fielder's choice to score Todd. Marion put four more runs across in the second inning with hits by Landan Sartain and McGregory; Neumann, Cofer, and Logan Taylor also reached base in the inning. Nine more runs in the third inning helped Marion secure the run-ruled game 14-0. Alex Weeks relieved McKinley in the fifth inning, finishing with a one-two-three out inning.
Game two started with sophomore Blake Teel on the mound for the Tigers. Teel worked three innings, giving up four hits, one run (no earned runs) while striking out one batter. Jonah Todd (1-for-2, 1R, 1RBI) and Zachary Neumann (1-for-2, 1R) both walked to start the bottom half of the first inning when Logan Taylor (1-for-3) sacrificed them into scoring position. McGregory's (1-for-4) bloop hit was mishandled by the pitcher and a throwing error trying to get Jackson Cofer (1-for-3, 2R, 2RBI) out allowed two runs to score for the home squad. Alabama Southern scored their first run of the afternoon in the third inning. They added another one in the fourth inning off freshman reliever Justin Cottingham. Marion was able to take the lead back in the bottom half of the inning when Todd doubled, scoring Logan Nix (1-for-1, 1RBI). ASCC added another run in the sixth inning and then tied the game 4-4 in the top of the seventh inning off of reliever Alex Weeks, hoping for extra innings. Jackson Cofer came in from right field to close out ASCC's rally. Cofer earned a walk and Kent Jenkins was hit by a pitch to give Marion two runners on base, with two outs to play. Sophomore Justin Bisharat (1-for-1, 1 RBI) stepped to the plate and hit a shot to the outfield, scoring Cofer for the 5-4 win.
Marion will travel to Georgia for four games this week. The Tigers will face Lagrange JV on Wednesday, February 10th and West Georgia Technical College on the 11th.