POPLARVILLE, Miss. — The No. 3 Pearl River baseball team kicked off its three-game set with Murray State the right way Friday evening, picking up 11 hits and taking down the Aggies 10-5 inside Dub Herring Park.
Game two of the series will get underway at 1 p.m. tomorrow.
"I knew that the drizzle, rain and fog combined with the turf would cause some mistakes and miscues," head coach Michael Avalon said. "It wasn't the prettiest of days, but it's a good day anytime you get a win. We told them before the game that we were at home, so there were no excuses. I was proud of the guys for how they rolled with the punches.
"Murray State is a really good club. They are physical and have really good arms. We have to get some rest and be ready to go at them tomorrow."
Pearl River (9-2 overall) starter Thomas Crabtree (Collierville, Tenn.) looked to have his offspeed pitches working in his third start of the year as the right-hander picked up two strikeouts in the top of the first inning — the second of which saw him unleash a hammer of a breaking ball to get a called third strike and end the frame.
The Murray State (4-5) starter matched Crabtree's hot start, working around two baserunners to get out of a jam. After another solid top of the second inning from Crabtree, the Aggies broke through for a run in the top of the third. The leadoff runner in the frame reached on an error and came around to score on a fielder's choice, 1-0.
Errors and a passed ball allowed the Wildcats to even up the score in the bottom half, with Bryce Fowler (Madison; Germantown) doing the damage, 1-1.
Pearl River picked up the pace at the plate in the bottom of the fourth, racking up six runs. With the bases loaded, Keegan Giger (Petal) worked a walk for an RBI. The Aggies got dinged for a balk to allow the next run to score. Logan Terry's (Semmes, Ala.; East Central) chopper to the first baseman plated the next two runs as the fielder attempted to get the runner heading toward home plate but instead sent it wide, 4-1. Fowler delivered the big blow of the inning, working a 3-2 count before unloading on an inside pitch and sending it flying over the right field wall for a two-run shot, 7-1.
Two more runs scored in the top of the fifth, cutting PRCC's advantage to four runs at 7-3. Caleb Dyess (Carriere; Pearl River Central) notched another appearance on the mound to open the sixth inning and immediately delivered, retiring all three batters that walked to the plate.
The fireworks continued for PRCC in the sixth inning. Fowler scored the first run of the frame on Jeff Ince's (Brandon; Jackson Prep) single into left field. Hollis Porter's (Hurley; East Central) power was then present for the fifth time this season as the left-handed hitting first baseman slugged a 2-0 pitch over the videoboard in left center field to grow PRCC's lead to 10-3.
The Aggies tacked on runs in the seventh and ninth innings, but Dyess limited the damage to earn a 10-5 victory.
Fowler went 3-for-4 in the contest with two RBIs and a walk.
"It's pretty special when you can stay on a ball away, and then you can turn on a ball middle in and drive it out of the ballpark," Avalon said. "That tells you all you need to know about him. We go as he goes, and I hope he can be our spark the rest of the year."
Ince finished 2-for-5 with an RBI. Porter wrapped up the night 2-for-5 with two RBIs
"His focus is different right now," Avalon said. "He's staying humble, which I love seeing from him. He's a marked man, and he's in there battling. He's got to keep working and getting better."
JP Robertson (Madison; Germantown) went 2-for-3 from the designated hitter position.
Crabtree earned his third win of the year, finishing with five innings pitched and scattering six hits, three walks and three runs. Only two of the runs that crossed the plate were earned. He struck out seven batters.
"He was really special tonight," Avalon said. "I didn't think he had his best stuff, but he competed against a really good lineup that was ready to play."
Dyess earned the save by pitching four hits and allowing two runs on five this and a walk. He fanned six Aggies in the game.
TICKETS
Tickets are on sale now at PRCCAthletics.com/Tickets. General admission tickets are $8 per game. Season passes can be purchased for $75 for softball or a softball/baseball season pass can be purchased for $100.
HOW TO WATCH
The Wildcats will once again livestream all games for free at PRCCMedia.com/gold. Fans who have Roku, Amazon Fire or Apple TV devices can also watch the Wildcat broadcasts by downloading the "Pearl River CC" channel from their app stores.
Games can also be heard at WRJW 1320-AM, 106.9 FM and WRJWRadio.com.
For the latest on Pearl River Community College athletics, follow us on X (@PRCCAthletics) and Facebook (PRCCAthletics).