Marion, AL—The MMI baseball team split their opening doubleheader at home versus the Trojans of Central Alabama Community College and will travel to Alexander City, AL. this Saturday to finish the four-game ACCC North series.

Game 1 MMI 2 CACC 6

MMI scored a run in their first at-bat for starting pitcher Jaxson Lucas, when Michael Rich connected on a two-out home run over right field fence. 

Both teams were kept off the scoreboard until the Trojans added five runs in the fifth inning to take a 5-1 lead.  Marion added a run in the bottom half of that inning.  Bryson Kirk earned first base with a two-out walk.  Nicholas Freeman singled and after the CACC left fielder misplayed the ball, Kirk advanced all the way around to score. 

CACC added another run in the top of the seventh inning and the Tigers went three-up, three-down to end the game.

Game 2 MMI 6 CACC 4

Joshua Mehmen took the mound for the Tigers in game two and earned the win, working into the seventh inning when John Allen came in to finish the game.

Nicholas Freeman led off in the bottom of the first inning for MMI with a walk.  Hunter Stowe singled to centerfield.  Michael Rich walked to load the bases for freshman first baseman Nicholas Copen who singled to score Marion's first two runs.

The Tigers added another run in the second inning.  Jonah Leland walked with one out and advanced to second on a wild pitch.  Freeman walked and Stowe was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  Leland scored on a wild pitch to give MMI a 3-0 lead.

After Mehmen kept the Trojans scoreless in the third inning, the Tigers added another run in their turn at the plate.  Copen was hit by a pitch.  Nicholas Davis doubled with two outs to score Copen.

CACC added three runs in the fourth inning with a three-run homerun to cut Marion's lead to 4-3.  They were able to tie the game in the sixth inning with another solo dinger but MMI took the lead back in the bottom half of that inning.  Jordan Moore earned a one-out walk.  Freeman hit into a fielder's choice with Moore being thrown out at second.  Stowe was hit by a pitch.  Michael Rich, MMI's sophomore second baseman struck out, but the ball got by the catcher and Marion scored two runs off an errant throw to first; Rich was safe at first.

CACC's lead-off batter doubled to start the seventh inning and after Mehmen got the next batter to fly out to center field, Head Coach Matt Downs went to reliever John Allen.  Allen walked the first two batters to load the bases but struck the next two batters to secure the win for Marion.