Box Score CLINTON, Miss. – The Spring Hill College (SHC) baseball team fought to an 8-6 non-conference victory over the Mississippi College (MC) Choctaws on Tuesday evening at Frierson Field.

The Spring Hill offense shook off the doldrums of this past weekend's disappointing series at Miles College with a huge 1st inning when right fielder Michael Druhan doubled in catcher Alex Jones and later scored off a single by third baseman Matthew Spradlin. Shortstop Maverick Latour then plated Spradlin with a two-out single to give the Badgers an early 4-0 lead over the Choctaws (12-16).

MC answered back with a four-run 2nd inning that was highlighted by a two-RBI double by right fielder Chance Whitten and a run-scoring single to right by shortstop Hunter Hall.

SHC recaptured 5-4 lead in the 4th inning as center fielder Garrett Webb did a good job of hitting behind the runners on a ground out to the right side that brought in second baseman Thomas Smith from 3rd base. The Choctaws responded with a tying run in the 5th frame as left fielder Casey Echols beat out a potential double play ball to bring in catcher Caleb Upton.

Spradlin put the Badgers back up by two runs in the 7th inning with a single up the middle that scored Druhan and Jones, but MC responded in the bottom of the 8th inning with a two-out, run-scoring triple to deep right field by center fielder Will Elliot to make it a 7-6 Badger advantage headed to the 9th inning.

Senior first baseman William Floros led off the final frame by crushing a home run out of right field to provide the Badgers with an insurance run at 8-6. Hunter Nowak came out of the bullpen to earn his third save of the season when, with one out, a Choctaw runner at 2nd base was called out on an appeal play after attempting to advance on a fly ball to Webb in center field.

Andrew Pierson (3-0) picked up the win in three innings of relief with two hits allowed no walks and two strike outs as starter Austin Barrios went five innings with eight hits, no walks and six strike outs. For MC, Perry Turner (0-1) took the loss as the Choctaws used seven pitchers on the night to allow 12 hits with three walks, four hit batters and six strike outs.

At the plate, Jones had three hits for the Badgers while Spradlin and Latour each pocketed a pair of hits with Spradlin tallying three runs-batted-in. Upton and Elliot both had two safeties for the Choctaws.

The Badgers (16-13, 7-2 SIAC) will travel to Frankfort, Ky., this weekend to face the Kentucky State University Thorobreds (8-15, 6-3 SIAC) in a three-game conference series beginning on Saturday with a doubleheader at noon followed by a single game on Sunday at 1 p.m.