POPLARVILLE, Miss. — Following a rough day on Saturday, No. 3 Pearl River baseball head coach Michael Avalon wanted his team to display more toughness in Sunday's rubber match against Murray State.
The Wildcats did just that, picking up 10 runs on 10 hits and shutting out the Aggies from the fourth inning on to secure a 10-3 win and a series victory.
"Yesterday, we talked as a team about toughness," sophomore third baseman Jonah Katsaboulas said. "Today, we rolled up to the ballpark wanting to be tough as a group. We don't want to shy away from the challenges. We want to take them as opportunities. We did that today, and I'm proud of these guys."
Avalon talked about the team that his Wildcats squared off with all weekend.
"Give a lot of credit to that group — that was a tough matchup," he said. "They have a lot of depth on the mound and a lot of different types of arms. They are mature, and they get after it."
Pearl River (10-3 overall) got off to a solid start both on defense and offense. Jonah Katsaboulas (Brandon) shined in the top of the first, charging in, scooping up a slowly hit ground ball and throwing off-balance to get a runner headed for first base.
Bryce Fowler (Madison; Germantown) got the Wildcats started on offense, ripping a lefty-on-lefty single up the middle. Creek Robertson (Oxford; Madison Central) followed by blooping a single over the shortstop's head and Hollis Porter (Hurley; East Central) was plunked. Jeff Ince (Brandon; Jackson Prep) nearly delivered a big blow as he crushed a ball deep to left field. The Murray State (5-6) outfielder made a quick turn and dashed backward before making a leaping catch to prevent extra bases. The long fly out resulted in a sacrifice fly, 1-0.
On the back of the incredible defensive play, the Aggies responded, plating a pair of runs in the second and adding one run in the third to move ahead 3-1.
JP Robertson (Madison; Germantown) answered well in the top of the fourth. He allowed a leadoff single but erased the runner with a smooth pickoff move. He allowed a two-out baserunner and struck out the next batter to end the frame.
With Murray State clinging to a two-run lead in the bottom half of the fourth, Pearl River had two runners in scoring position, forcing the Aggies to draw in its infielders. Katsaboulas stepped to the dish and saw seven pitches before slicing a single just between the first and second baseman for a clutch two-run single, squaring up the game at 3-3.
JP Robertson was truly locked in during the fifth inning, retiring all three runners that stepped to the plate to put the hot Wildcat offense back at the dish. PRCC quickly loaded the bases, and Marshall Phillips (Hattiesburg; Sumrall) ripped a single into left field for an RBI. Katsaboulas took four straight balls to pick up an RBI with a walk, 5-3.
JP Robertson went right back to work on the mound in the sixth, working his way through a runner in scoring position situation to keep MSC off the scoresheet.
PRCC's offense went quiet in the bottom half, and Avalon handed the ball off to Austin Tommasini (Madison; Madison Central) in the seventh. The Mississippi State transfer was electric in his appearance as he sent the Aggies back to the dugout in order in the seventh and worked around a leadoff single in the eighth. The final out of the eighth saw Tommasini freeze a batter with a front door slider, pumping up his teammates as he walked back to the dugout.
The way Tommasini came off the mound seemed to get PRCC's offense back going as the Wildcats tacked on a five-spot. With the bases loaded, Fowler worked a six-pitch walk for an RBI. Fellow Southern Miss transfer Creek Robertson (Oxford; Madison Central) followed by clearing the bases with a double into the left center field gap, 9-3. Ince finished the big inning by slapping a single into center field to make it a double-digit day for the Wildcats, 10-3.
Tommasini was unhittable in the ninth, retiring the Aggies quickly to secure the victory.
LEADING THE WAY
Robertson earned the victory, throwing six innings and allowing three runs on five hits and three walks. He struck out five batters. After the second inning, Robertson shut out the Aggies in the fourth, fifth, and sixth.
"You have to be careful what you say as a coach about opposing teams, but I am pretty confident about this — the two toughest teams we've faced this year, JP Robertson has pitched against both," Avalon said. "That was Florida Southwestern and Murray State. He came out both times and did exactly what we needed."
Tommasini was awarded the save by throwing three innings of one-hit baseball while striking out three.
"He can run the fastball in, and the slurve goes away," Avalon said. "That's tough for guys to adjust to. He was confident and wanted the baseball — that's what we needed."
Katsaboulas had a day at the plate, finishing 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a walk.
"I told him at the beginning of the year that wherever he hits in the lineup, I want him to be the best guy in that spot. He's starting to get going. His confidence is up. He's starting to get healthy, and we need him."
Creek Robertson was 2-for-4 with three RBIs.
"Every year, we've got a guy that is our glue, and that's Creek Robertson this year," Avalon said. "Our team knows that, and it was tough without him the last two games. He makes an impact."
UP NEXT
The Wildcats hit the road Tuesday for game against Itawamba and Holmes. First pitch in Goodman is set for 3 p.m.
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