Blue Mountain, Miss.- The Blue Mountain Christian University baseball team split Saturday's SSAC doubleheader against the UT Southern Firehawks, falling 5-3 in Game 2 before responding with an 8-6 victory in the series finale at Topper Field.
In Game 2, the Toppers and Firehawks were locked in a tight contest throughout much of the game. 
UT Southern struck first with two runs in the third inning before Blue Mountain answered in the seventh. 
Jacob Bryant delivered a clutch two-RBI double to tie the game at 2-2, scoring Jake Meilstrup and Gavin Foley.
The Firehawks regained the lead in the ninth inning, scoring three runs to take a 5-2 advantage. Blue Mountain added one run in the bottom half of the inning on a sacrifice fly by Ross Polizzi that scored Meilstrup, but the rally fell short.
Blue Mountain finished with nine hits in the contest. Meilstrup led the Toppers with a strong performance, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored. 
Yaidel Perez added two hits while Bryant drove in two runs. Jarrett Morris and Cody Presley also recorded hits for the Toppers.
Chris Matthews delivered a strong outing on the mound despite taking the loss, throwing a complete game while allowing five runs on nine hits and striking out five.
In Game 3, the Toppers bounced back with an offensive surge early to secure the win. Blue Mountain plated four runs in the second inning, highlighted by a three-run home run from Bryant. 
The Toppers continued the momentum in the third inning with three more runs, including RBI doubles from Trace Roy and Garret Lance and an RBI single from Foley to extend the lead to 7-0.
UT Southern responded with five runs in the fourth inning to cut the deficit to 7-5, but Blue Mountain answered with an RBI single from Jarrett Morris later in the inning to push the lead to 8-5. 
The Firehawks added one more run in the seventh, but the Toppers held on for the 8-6 victory.
The Toppers totaled 13 hits in the win. Roy led the offensive effort with a perfect 4-for-4 performance, scoring two runs and driving in one.
Bryant finished with a home run, three RBIs, two runs scored, and three walks. Lance added two hits and an RBI while Morris, Foley, and Perez also contributed hits.
Benji Webb earned the win on the mound, throwing seven innings while allowing six runs (three earned) on seven hits. 
Webb struck out 10 batters in the outing to improve to 4-1 on the season.
The win allowed Blue Mountain to close the series on a positive note as the Toppers continue conference play in the SSAC.
 
 
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