POPLARVILLE, Miss. — The No. 3 Pearl River baseball team couldn't hold on to an early lead Saturday afternoon as Murray State capitalized on Wildcat mistakes to take game two of the series 15-9.
The rubber match will occur on Sunday at noon inside Dub Herring Park.
"They're a good team, and they can swing it," head coach Michael Avalon said. "They made way more plays than we did today. They had some baserunners that they gave us that we refused to take advantage of. We have to learn this game doesn't always go your way, and it can't demoralize you when it doesn't. We've got to learn to show our toughness a little better."
Murray State (5-5 overall) started the afternoon strongly as its leadoff batter singled on a 1-0 pitch, moved to second on a passed ball and advanced to third on an infield single. He finally scored on a single, 1-0.
Pearl River (9-3) responded strongly in its half of the first. Bryce Fowler (Madison; Germantown) struck out but stuck with the play to get on base on a dropped third strike. Jeff Ince (Brandon; Jackson Prep) moved him to third base on a single, and Fowler scored on a groundout. Marshall Phillips (Hattiesburg; Sumrall) delivered the major highlight of the inning as he launched a two-run home run over the left field wall, 3-1.
The fourth inning proved to be a turning point for the Aggies, who capitalized on two walks, three hits and three errors to take a commanding lead. The big blow of the frame was a grand slam sent flying over the right field wall.
Pearl River attempted to rally in the bottom half of the inning as Jonah Katsaboulas (Brandon) walked, Parker Ryan (Madison; Jackson Academy) reached on an error and Ince loaded the bases with a single. Phillips picked up his third RBI of the day by drawing a walk. A wild pitch brought home Ryan.
The Aggies struck for four more in the fifth and two more in the seventh to head into the eighth ahead 13-5. In the eighth, Hollis Porter (Hurley; East Central) mashed his sixth home run in the first 12 games of the year to pick up a pair of RBIs, 13-7. Murray State plated two in the ninth before Ashton Schepens (Long Beach) made the most of a pinch-hit opportunity, demolishing his first collegiate home run over the left field wall, 15-9. The rally ended there for the Wildcats as they fell in game two of the series.
JT Schnoor (Pascagoula; Resurrection) pitched the first 3 1/3 innings, allowing seven runs on three walks and six hits. Only three of his runs were earned. Blake Gollott (Saucier; D'Iberville) notched 1 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on two hits and two walks. Blaine Knight (Kiln; Hancock) recorded an out, allowing one run on one hit and one walk. Eli Waters (Petal) threw 1 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on two hits and a walk. Dylan Wallace (Columbia) recorded an out, allowing one hit and one walk. Reed McCrillis (Madison; Madison Central) threw one inning, allowing one hit and one walk. AJ Hansen (Mobile, Ala.; McGill-Toolen) pitched the final inning of the afternoon for the Wildcats, giving up two runs on two hits.
Ince and Keegan Giger (Petal) each finished the day 2-for-5. Porter and Phillips each collected one hit and three RBIs.
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).