February 18, 2009

NEMCC BASEBALL PUSHES WIN STREAK TO FOUR

BOONEVILLE, Miss. --Northeast Mississippi Community College's baseball team is off to a 4-0 start for its 2009 campaign.

After sweeping Arkansas Baptist at Harold T. White Field on Friday, February 13, the Tigers traveled to Muscle Shoals, Ala., and swept the Patriots Tuesday, February 17.

Northeast Mississippi Community College Head Baseball Coach Kent Farris picked up two more wins the hard way in Alabama by beating the Patriots and the weather.

“We played in some serious wind with the wind chill factors feeling like 20 degrees below with some down pours of rain,” said Farris. “We definitely had some adversity with the weather situation and it caused us some trouble making some plays in the field, but we played well overall.”

In the opener, Northeast defeated the Patriots 5-4 on the arm of sophomore starting pitcher Jake Mills (Lafayette County). Mills (1-0) got credit for the win while sophomore Patrick Hinton (Kossuth) picked up his first save of the young season. Hinton finished third in the nation during the 2008 campaign with 12 saves.

Seth Kennedy (Tishomingo County) had a pair of hits in the game while teammate and University of North Alabama (UNA) signee Nick McGregor (Pontotoc) chipped in with a double to help push the Tigers to victory.

Northwest Shoals Jared Mothershed and Colton Stewart picked up two hits apiece for the Patriots.

Farris started freshman pitcher Brandon Farley (Cookeville, Tenn.) in the nightcap and the Tigers were able to pull away from Northwest Shoals on a final score of 11-5. 

Farley picked up his first collegiate career win against the Patriots.

Multiple hitters included Daniel Tunnell (New Albany) and Kennedy, who both had three hits, along with National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) pre-season All-American Phillip Chapman (Clinton) who connected on two hits for Northeast.

Kennedy, a Tishomingo County product, was a force at the plate for the Tigers in the doubleheader. The Tigers designated hitter banged out five hits in the two contest – including four doubles against the Patriots.

“We are off to a good start with a record of 4-0,” Farris said, “but we got some key games coming up.”

Northeast looks to improve its record when it faces Hinds Community College on Wednesday, February 25, at Harold T. White Field.

First pitch is set for 1 p.m.

The doubleheader against Bevill State in Fayette, Ala. set for February 21 has been cancelled.

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