COCHRAN, Ga. – GAME 1 – (RV) Blue Mountain Christian suffered a 14-13 loss in Game 1 to Middle Georgia State here Friday to open the three-game SSAC series.
After staging a late comeback in the ninth to take the lead, the Toppers would drop the tilt on a walkoff wild pitch by closer Shaine O'Keefe in the bottom of the ninth.
The Knights got off to a quick 5-0 start in the first against BMCU starter Josh Smith, but the Toppers continually chipped away throughout the game.
Hayden Arant put the Toppers on the board in the fourth with a two-run homer, followed by a four-run sixth inning highlighted by a two-run single from Alex Frillman.
In the eight, Blue Mountain would get three more, capped by a sac fly from Gavin Coles.
In the ninth, Smith blasted a solo homer for the Toppers to get the rally started.  He was followed up by Arant who belted his second two-run homer of the day against Knight reliever J.T. Shields.
The Toppers battered Shields for seven runs on seven hits, but he would still get the pitching victory out of the pen for MGA.
In the final frame, O'Keefe would come on for the Toppers, but a two-run single from Rice and the wild pitch melted the Toppers' lead to give MGA the Game 1 victory.
Arant would finish the day with four hits, four RBI and three runs scored for the Toppers, while Austin Beech had three hits and four runs scored.  Reiley Tate chipped in three hits and Frillman had a couple hits with two RBI.  Easton Rainer also had three hits with two runs scored.
Both teams pitching staffs were less than stellar, with MGA giving up 13 earned runs on 16 hits and Blue Mountain's giving up 10 earned runs on 15 hits.
The Toppers fell to 18-8 overall and 3-4 in the SSAC and are currently in the midst a four-game losing streak.
The two teams will decide the series Saturday in Cochran in a doubleheader with first pitch set for 12 p.m. CT.
 
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