Eagles Sweep Lawson State, Improve to 3-0 on Young Season
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
7 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 15 | 0 |
|
|
0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 2 |
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 0 |
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Meridian Community College Eagles passed their first road test of the season in impressive fashion Tuesday, sweeping Lawson State with a 14-1 five-inning run-rule victory in game one and grinding out a 5-4 thriller in game two.
With the sweep, the Eagles improve to 3-0 on the season.
Game One: Eagles Explode Early in 14-1 Run-Rule Win
Meridian wasted no time setting the tone in the opener, erupting for seven runs in the top of the first inning and never looking back.
Cambridge McDaniel led the charge, driving in four runs on two hits. McDaniel tripled in the first inning to score two, doubled in the second to plate another run, and added a sacrifice fly in the third to cap his productive afternoon.
The Eagles' first-inning surge also featured RBI hits from Tyler Johnson, Eli Swearingen, and Brayden Allen as Meridian built a commanding lead early. The offense continued to roll in the second and third innings, extending the advantage behind timely hitting and aggressive base running.
Meridian tallied 14 hits in the contest, with McDaniel, Johnson, Harlin Hovater, and Matthew McKinley each collecting two hits. Swearingen, Chris Fox, Hovater, and McDaniel all recorded doubles, while McDaniel added a triple to his stat line.
On the mound, Thomas Mitchell earned the win, allowing one run over three innings with three strikeouts. Brett Busbea and Hunter Parker each tossed scoreless relief innings to close out the five-inning victory.
The Eagles were flawless defensively, committing no errors and turning a double play in the win.
Game Two: Eagles Edge Lawson State in 5-4 Thriller
Game two proved to be a much tighter battle, but Meridian once again found a way to prevail.
McDaniel opened the scoring with a groundout RBI in the first inning before Lawson State responded to take a 2-1 lead. The Eagles regained control in the fifth inning when singles from Swearingen and Fox sparked a rally that pushed Meridian ahead 4-2.
McKinley provided a key insurance run in the sixth, launching a solo home run to right field on an 0-2 count.
Fox paced the offense in the nightcap, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs, while Jackson added two hits. Fox also recorded a double in the contest.
On the mound, Joel Smith earned the win after tossing 5.2 innings, allowing four runs (two earned) while striking out six. Ridge Brown picked up the save, and Aiden Tuura added a scoreless relief inning to help secure the victory.
Head Coach Dillon Sudduth was pleased with how his team handled its first road contests of the season.
"We got a lot of valuable experience in game one, especially from some of our younger guys," Sudduth said. "Game two showed our toughness. We had to compete every pitch and find a way to finish. I'm proud of how we handled ourselves on the road."
The Eagles will return home this weekend to host Southwestern Illinois in a four-game series at Scaggs Field. The series begins Friday with a single game, followed by a doubleheader Saturday and a final game Sunday.
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