Sports

Toppers sweep doubleheader, take SSAC series from Faulkner

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Blue Mountain Christian responded to a 16-9 opening-game loss by sweeping a Saturday doubleheader against Faulkner to secure the Southern States Athletic Conference series.

The Toppers won game two 11-5, building a seven-run second inning behind timely hitting. Jake Meilstrup delivered a two-run double and Cody Presley hit a two-run home run; Presley and Meilstrup each drove in three runs. Chris Matthews threw a complete game of seven innings to earn the victory.

Blue Mountain Christian carried the momentum into the nightcap, again scoring 11 runs to win 11-4. The Toppers broke the game open with a five-run fourth inning, with RBIs from Yaidel Perez, Presley and Jarrett Morris. Presley added a sacrifice fly later, and Ross Polizzi went 4-for-6 with an RBI. Presley finished 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs, Perez had two RBIs and Meilstrup scored twice.

On the mound in game three, Benji Webb worked 8.1 innings, allowing four runs on five hits to pick up the win, and Christian Maness recorded the final two outs. Across the sweep, the Toppers totaled 22 runs on 20 hits, demonstrating a quick turnaround after the series opener. Blue Mountain Christian visits Freed-Hardeman University (Tenn.) on Tuesday, April 14, at 5:00 p.m.

Jon Myers

Jon Ross Myers founded Mississippi News Group in 2013. Before founding the organization, he worked at The Daily Mississippian, The Marion Salute and The Southern Sentinel. A Mississippi journalist and writer based in Ripley, he received second place in poetry in the 2025 William Faulkner Literary Competition for "The Garden."