Meridian Community College’s Houston Parker puts the tag on a Mississippi Delta Community College runner for an out at third base Wednesday.

The scoreboard had just been cleared, but the music still blared from the speaker system.

As Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust” resonated through the Eagles’ baseball complex, Meridian Community College players exchanged high-fives before settling down in front of  head coach Dillon Sudduth just beyond the infield.

“We’ve played as well as we’ve played all year,” Sudduth said.

Meridian Community College swept Mississippi Delta Community College with scores of 13-8 and 9-2 in MACJC baseball action at William F. (Bill) Scaggs Field Wednesday to improve the Eagles’ record to 19-8 overall and 8-5 in conference play.

The win also moved MCC to 13-3 in home contests this year.

“It was just a complete team effort,” Sudduth said. “From pitching… I thought the defense was outstanding. I think we made one error on the day. And the offense was just relentless. Just a good, competitive spirit from the team, so I thought it was a great day.”

After falling behind 6-0 in the top of the first inning of Game 1, the Eagles’ pitching staff and defense limited the Trojans to just two runs over the next eight frames. As the defense held firm, MCC hitters provided more than enough run support, as they poured on 10 runs in the first four innings. 

“That’s who were are,” Sudduth said. “We’re just a bunch of grinders, a bunch of battlers and a bunch of competitors. That’s why I love this team so much.”

Despite the lopsided first inning, the Eagles still outhit the Trojans 17-12 in the series opener.

Donovan Shows, Mack Pickering and Markarius Lee each tallied three hits, and Shows and Lee each contributed three RBIs. Four additional MCC batters finished with two hits apiece.

MCC belted five doubles over the nine-inning contest, and Lee sent a two-run homer sailing over the left-field wall in the bottom of the seventh to score the Eagles’ 12th and 13th run.

Max Sharp threw 4 1/3 innings to earn the pitching win in Game 1. He allowed just four hits and one earned run while striking out five.

Game 2 featured Eagles’ starting pitcher Tyler Lantz, who starred locally at West Lauderdale High School. A sophomore, Lantz has been used primarily as a reliever throughout his career. But that changed this year when Sudduth promoted him to a starting role. 

“Tyler’s been great since he’s stepped on campus,” Sudduth said. “The thing that Tyler’s going through right now is we’ve asked him to do something he hasn’t done his whole life — which is start. I think that was his third or fourth start, and every one of them has been good. It’s a new role for him, but he’s a team guy.”

Lantz went 4 1/3 innings in the nightcap. He threw 64 pitches, struck out five and allowed two earned runs. 

“It’s really different,” Lantz said of his new role. “It’s just trying to stretch out more, not necessarily getting the ball the last three outs of the game. You get it and go as far as you can.”

Leading 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth of Game 2, MCC loaded the bases, clearing the way for RBI singles from Shows and Davis Ferguson that upped the advantage to 5-2. Jean Louis Torres cleared the bases with a three-run double that pushed the Eagles ahead 9-2.

“That was kind of the knockout blow for the team,” Sudduth said. “I thought Donovan Shows before that had a big two-strike battle and an RBI single. Then Jean split a gap to kind of put the game away.”

Eagles’ pitcher Braden Forsyth was credited with the win. He struck out seven Trojans hitters in just 2 2/3 innings.