POPLARVILLE, Miss. — The No. 5 Pearl River baseball team fell behind twice Wednesday night against Southwest but battled back to win both games, taking game one 9-4 and the nightcap 11-2. With the sweep, Pearl River's winning streak now stands at 11 games.
"We were down in both games and were outhit early in both games. We ended up outhitting them in both. That's a credit to our offense," head coach Michael Avalon said. "We took our walks and took what they gave us. Our pitchers kept the score down for us and allowed us to get back into the games."
GAME ONE
Southwest (12-19 overall; 0-4 MACCC) jumped on Pearl River (24-5; 4-0) in the first inning of play, picking up two hits and taking advantage of a miscue to take a 2-0 lead.
PRCC was quick to respond in its half of the first. Creek Robertson (Oxford; Madison Central) hit a ball hard down the third base line, which resulted in an infield single. Hollis Porter (Hurley; East Central) followed by hitting a double against the shift to get two runners into scoring position. After a Jeff Ince (Brandon; Jackson Prep) walk, Marshall Phillips (Hattiesburg; Sumrall) ripped a ball to third base that was initially bobbled, but the fielder recovered to get the out at third base for an RBI fielder's choice. Ince then swiped third and scored on a wild pitch to even it up, 2-2.
The Bears singled the Wildcats to death in the second inning, knocking four in the frame to move back ahead 3-2 — they could have tacked on more runs if not for a web gem in center field from Bryce Fowler (Madison; Germantown), who rushed in to dive and catch a ball. A single and a double in the third inning helped SMCC double its advantage, 4-2.
Ince helped the Wildcats even things up in the bottom of the third. Following a Robertson infield single, Ince jumped on a pitch and sent a laser flying over the right field wall, 4-4.
Robertson showed off his defensive ability in the top of the sixth, ranging far to his right, jumping and throwing a ball across the diamond to record an out at first base.
The Wildcats took their first lead of the night in the bottom of the seventh. Ince singled to lead things off and scored on a double off the bat of Phillips. Phillips made his way to third on a passed ball, and Jonah Katsaboulas (Brandon) drew a walk. When Katsaboulas reached first base, he continued running to intentionally get caught in a run down. When Phillips was returning to third base, the throw went sailing down the left field line and allowed him to score and Katsaboulas to take second, 6-4.
The Wildcats racked up three runs on a hit and an error in the eighth inning. A Fowler single and a Robertson walk opened the frame and brought up Porter. The Bears once again put on the shift, and Porter hit right into it — luckily for the Wildcats, the ball kicked off the glove of the second baseman to bring home Fowler. Robertson eventually scored, and Caston Thompson (Jayess; Brookhaven Academy) capped the scoring in the inning with a sacrifice fly into center field, 9-4.
Austin Tommasini (Madison; Madison Central) walked to the mound and struck out all three batters that walked to the plate in the ninth inning to end the contest.
Fowler led PRCC at the plate in the game, going 3-for-5. He also swiped three bases. Robertson finished 2-for-3 with a walk. Ince also finished 2-for-3, scoring three runs and driving in two. He also walked twice. Phillips went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two stolen bases. Both of his hits were doubles.
Carson Fair (Southaven) started the game for the Wildcats and threw 2 1/3 innings. He gave up four runs on eight hits. Only two of the runs were earned. He struck out two. AJ Hansen (Mobile, Ala.; McGill-Toolen) was electric in his relief outing, throwing 4 2/3 innings and allowing just three hits. He struck out a pair of Bears.
"AJ was exactly what we needed in the first game," Avalon said. "He's been really good for us. He's mature for a freshman. He knows who he is and stays within himself. He really competes. He settled the waters for us and put zeros up."
Tommasini earned the save, throwing the last two innings of the contest and punching out four batters.
GAME TWO
Southwest got off to another hot start in the second game of the afternoon, hitting a double and a triple in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. The Wildcats went three-up, three-down in their part of the opening frame.
Thomas Crabtree (Collierville, Tenn.) had to work again in the top of the second, facing a first and third situation with just one out. The right-hander recorded his next out thanks to his fielding ability, scooping up a bunt and firing home to tag out a runner trying to score. He promptly punched out the next batter to end the inning.
Four runs crossed the plate for the Wildcats in the second. Thompson walked, and Phillips singled. The duo then executed a double steal to get into scoring position. Parker Ryan (Madison; Jackson Academy) drew a walk to load the bases, and then Alex Wade (Decatur, Ala.; Madison Academy) picked up an RBI with a walk. The first pitch thrown to Fowler hit him to drive in the next run. Robertson walked to the plate next and sent a ball the other way into right field for a two-run single, 4-1.
Southwest added a run in the third, and PRCC quickly matched it, scoring a run on a passed ball, 5-2.
The Wildcats added three more runs in the fifth inning of the night. Katsaboulas reached base on an error by the SMCC third baseman and later scored on a wild pitch. Robertson delivered the big blow of the inning. He roped the first pitch that he saw down the first base line, and it looked to be fair but was called foul. Despite things not going his way, he battled through the at-bat and eventually smacked a two-run single into right field, 8-2.
Phillips picked up an RBI triple in the sixth inning, sending a sinking line drive into center field that the outfielder dove and was unable to catch. The ball shot all the way to the wall, and Phillips cruised into third. Ryan brought Phillips home with an opposite-field double, and Ryan scored on a Fowler opposite-field single, 11-2.
The Bears went without much fight in the bottom of the seventh and Pearl River took the game to earn a sweep.
Phillips went a stellar 4-for-4 with two runs, an RBI and one stolen base. Robertson finished 2-for-5 and drove in four runs. Thompson walked three times.
Crabtree threw five innings, allowing two runs on eight hits and a walk. He struck out seven. Caleb Dyess (Carriere; Pearl River Central) allowed one hit in his one inning of work. Konnor Graham (Hammond, La.) threw an inning of relief, striking out two and walking one.
NEXT UP
Pearl River hits the road Saturday to take on Mississippi Delta. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. The game will be livestreamed at https://www.youtube.com/@MDCCTrojans
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 Twitter (@PRCCAthletics) and Facebook (PRCCAthletics).