BLUE MOUNTAIN, Miss. – GAME 1 – Blue Mountain Christian Baseball kicked off 2024 against NCAA DII Lane College, grabbing the first game 4-3.
The Toppers hit the board in the very first inning, as Chris Smith laced an RBI single to right to give BMCU a 1-0 lead.
BMCU starter Matthew Koch was solid in his opening start, tossing three innings of two-hit ball with seven Ks and no runs allowed.
In the bottom of the third, Will Crawford teed off on a Tim Touchette fastball that left the yard to left for his first homer of the year, a two-run job.
The Dragons scored their first run in the fifth on as fielder's choice that scored Darren Adams against BMCU's Jesse Hancock.
In the sixth, Lane's Perez would tie it at 3-3 with a two-run homer to left off BMCU's Smith.
The Toppers would break the tie in the bottom of the sixth when Crawford struck again, this time an RBI single to left.
Smith would eventually get the decision for Blue Mountain on the bump, tossing two innings, giving up two runs on two hits with four Ks.
Kock, Hancock and Smith would notch 13 Ks combined for Blue Mountain, with Crawford and Smith both getting two hits apiece and Crawford driving in three.
Blue Mountain also had five stolen bases on the day, as leadoff Gavin Coles swiping two.
 
GAME 2
Game 2 saw Lane rebound and take a close 4-3 decision over the Toppers.
Shaine O'Keefe took the ball for Blue Mountain in Game 2, throwing four innings of no-hit ball and striking out five in his 2024 debut.
The Toppers hit the board in the fourth, as Hayden Redding ripped an RBI single and Arderrius Townsend later came around to score on a double-play.
Lane would send three runs around to score in the sixth, as D. Danner would double in Benniefield against Topper reliver Jake Reeder.  S. Shannon would single in Danner and K. Hall would put his team up 3-2 with an RBI single later in the inning.
Blue Mountain would tie it at 3-all in the bottom of the sixth with Carson Gault driving in Hayden Redding.
Austin Garrison would come on in the seventh for Blue Mountain and the Dragons would take the lead 4-3 with an RBI single from Benniefield.
Blue Mountain would see Josiah Rivera double to right and eventually make it to third, but the Toppers couldn't drive him in, ending the game in Lane's favor.
Redding would lead BMCU at the plate with two hits, while Garrison suffered the pitching loss in relief.
BMCU (1-1) returns to action Friday, Feb. 9 at home as they host Kansas Christian in a doubleheader at 2 and 4 p.m. CT.
 
 
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