Hinds baseball clinches playoff berth

The Hinds Eagle baseball team clinched a spot in the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference playoffs with a pair of wins Tuesday over Copiah-Lincoln Community College.

The Eagles now sport a record of 18-14, including a 16-10 conference record. The playoff berth also assured head coach Sam Temple would coach a postseason game in his final season at the helm.

Freshman right-hander Caleb Sterling, of Vicksburg, keyed the 5-3 win in Game 1 against Co-Lin, pitching 5.2 innings with four strikeouts. He also went 2-for-4 at the plate, with two doubles. Freshman Matt Corder, of Madison, added a double, stole a base and scored a run as part of a 4-for-5 performance at the plate.

Freshman centerfielder Brooks Auger, of Ruston, La., had the go-ahead RBI in the eighth inning. Sophomore catcher Pablo Lanzarote, of Venezuela, went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Freshman right-hander Noah Magee, of Olive Branch, earned the save with a strikeout in one inning pitched.

In Game 2, sophomore left-hander Bryce Brock, of Hernando, went all seven innings in a complete game shutout with 11 strikeouts, just one hit and a walk. It was the second time this season Brock struck out 11 batters with just one hit allowed. Lanzarote led the way at the plate in the 4-0 victory, going 2-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI. Sterling also went 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Adding to the long list of freshman contributors to the two wins were centerfielder Chase DeJean, of West Monroe, La., 2-for-3 with a double and two runs; middle infielder Vantrel Reed, of Vicksburg, 1-for-3 with a double; and catcher/first baseman/outfielder Sean Daily, of Vicksburg, 1-for-3 with a double.

The Eagles next scheduled opponent is East Mississippi Community College on Saturday. First pitch for each game is set for 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.