The MMI Tigers baseball team split a home doubleheader yesterday afternoon against Bishop State Community, improving their spring record to 5-4.  They are scheduled to host Coastal Alabama Community College (weather permitting) Friday, February 18 with a 12:00 p.m. start.

Game 1: MMI 5 BSCC 4

The Wildcats got on the scoreboard first in the second inning, scoring on a sacrifice fly off Marion's starting pitcher, Maxwell Grogan.  The Tigers took the lead in the bottom of the third inning, scoring four runs.  Mason Green reached on an error and was bunted to second by John Tunnell; he advanced to third base on a pass ball.  With two outs Hunter Stowe was hit by a pitch and Trenten Justice walked to load the bases.  Nicholas Copen singled to right field, scoring two runs.  Camden Matthews followed with a double, plating two more runs.

MMI scored another run in the fourth inning when Stowe reached on an infield error to lead the inning.  Justice hit into a fielder's choice, with Stowe being called out at second.  Copen doubled, bringing Justice to third.  Matthews' infield single scored Justice.

Bishop State rallied in the sixth inning for three runs when head coach Matt Downs turned to sophomore Jonah Leland to close out the inning.  After the Tigers were held scoreless in their at-bat, Leland got Bishop State to pop out to left field for the final out of the game, securing the win.

Game 2: MMI 3 BSCC 4

Game two saw Bishop State score their first run in the second inning off starter Nicholas Copen.  Marion took a 3-1 lead after the fifth inning when Braeden Brown bunted for a hit.  Connor White walked, and Mason Green reached on an error to load the bases.  Brown scored Marion's first run off a wild pitch.  Trenten Justice hit a sac fly allowing White to cross home plate, and Copen doubled to score Green.

The Wildcats took the lead back in their next at-bat, scoring three runs.  With Marion down 4-3 going into the bottom of the seventh inning, Green earned a one out walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch but the Tiger's batters couldn't find a hit to bring him home.