CLINTON, MS - The 15th-ranked Mississippi College (1-1) baseball team picked up its first win of the 2011 campaign beating Piedmont College (2-2) by a final score of 3-2.  After dropping the first game of the two-game series yesterday, the Choctaws got the the win today in a game that featured solid performances from both pitching staffs.

The Choctaws struck first in the bottom of the fourth inning when Piedmont starting pitcher Dusty Black  balked allowing Clay Crosswhite to score from third base.

MC would add two more runs in the fifth when Shane Bennett scored Andy Smith and Spencer Brunson off of a sacrifice fly to deep right-center field.

Piedmont would score one run in the sixth and one run in the eighth, but it would not be enough as the Choctaws held on for the close win.

Junior shortstop Mike Kerdock paced the MC offense going 2-for-3 at the plate.

Three Choctaw pitchers combined to allow only 1 earned run on seven hits. Senior Craig Mackay (1-0) threw a brilliant game striking out seven batters in seven innings of work, including no walks.  Junior Scott Trousdale threw the eighth inning before Bubba Davis recorded his first save of the season in the ninth.

The Choctaws will travel to Jackson, MS to play cross-town rival Millsaps this Tuesday night.  The first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.