POPLARVILLE, Miss. — The No. 2 Pearl River baseball team took care of business in its final non-conference game, defeating Nunez 9-3. PRCC banged out 16 hits and used seven pitchers to get the win.

"Nunez is a much-improved club. Coach (Glenn) Powell has done a fantastic job of building that program. Our pitchers did a really good job of keeping them at bay," head coach Michael Avalon said. "On offense, we had 16 hits. We're swinging the bat better and starting to get there. We've made a step in the right direction as we head into conference play.

"We knew that coming into the year, we were young on offense and that there would be some tough times. I'm proud of how they've responded and handled business."

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Wildcats (20-4) broke the deadlock in the fourth inning, scoring two runs. With a pair of runners in scoring position, Topher Jones (Hernando) scorched a ball down the third base line for a two-run double.

Three more Wildcat runs scored an inning later. Jackson Hood (Madison; Germantown), Keegan Giger (Petal) and Jones knocked three consecutive RBI singles to get it done, pushing PRCC ahead 5-0.

Nunez (23-6) fought back into the game with a seventh-inning three-spot, but PRCC responded with three of its own in the bottom half of the inning. The Wildcats quickly loaded up the bases to bring Jones up in another huge situation. The freshman came up big again, driving a two-run single into left field, 7-3. PRCC scored its last run of the inning when Logan Terry (Semmes, Ala.; East Central) grounded into a double play, 8-3.

The final Wildcat run of the night scored in the eighth inning. A leadoff Jaxon Milam (Phenix City, Ala.; Glenwood Academy) turned into a Thompson sacrifice fly, 9-3.

PRCC closed it out in the ninth to secure the win.

ON THE MOUND
Pearl River used seven pitchers in the contest. KK Clark (Brandon) threw the first three innings, walking three and striking out six. He didn't allow a hit.

Camden Clark (Laurel; West Jones) and Landon Watts (Picayune) both threw a hitless inning. Watts struck one batter out.

Peyton Lacy (Pass Christian) allowed one hit and struck out one in his lone inning of work. AJ Hansen (Mobile, Ala.; McGill-Toolen) made an appearance for the Wildcats and ran into some tough luck. He allowed three runs (one earned) on two hits and a walk.

Max Miller (Vancleave) tossed two innings, giving up two hits and two walks. He struck out four. Carson Fair (Southaven) finished things off with one inning, walking one and striking out one.

AT THE PLATE
Jones had his best game of the season, going 4-for-5 with five RBIs and a double. Hood finished 3-for-3 with three runs and an RBI. He also drew a walk. 

Jaxon Milam was 2-for-5 with two runs scored. Thompson went 2-for-3 with three runs, one RBI and one walk. Giger finished 2-for-5 with a run and an RBI.

Kyler King (Picayune), Hank Eaton (Corinth; Kossuth) and Jacob Keys (Brandon) each had a hit.

NEXT UP
Conference play begins on Saturday for the Wildcats as they host Northwest for a 2 p.m. doubleheader — weather permitting.

TUNE IN
All home Pearl River baseball games are livestreamed for free at PRCCMedia.com/Gold. Fans with 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 will also be available over the air in Pearl River County by tuning into 1320-AM and 106.9 FM. The radio broadcast is also available at WRJWRadio.com and by downloading the WRJW app.

For the latest on Pearl River Community College athletics, follow us on X (@PRCCAthletics) and Facebook (PRCCAthletics).