POPLARVILLE, Miss. — The No. 2 Pearl River baseball team got off to a hot start in each game against Hinds and used the momentum to secure its third MACCC sweep of the year. The Wildcats took the opener 9-3 and run-ruled the Eagles 13-3 in the nightcap.
"Their lineup is tough, and they have some guys that can swing it," head coach Michael Avalon said. "I thought our starters did a great job answering when they squared some balls up. It was good to see us step up on offense and put the game away in the second game.
"I know coach (Dan) Rives and coach (Josh) Clarke will get them back going. They're beat up with injuries. Tonight was not reflective of the quality team they are."
GAME ONE
The Wildcats (27-5 overall; 7-1 MACCC) put its pitching staff in a good situation right from the jump, scoring four first-inning runs against Hinds (7-21; 1-7). Jacob Keys (Brandon) walked, and Caston Thompson (Jayess; Brookhaven Academy) immediately belted a two-run homer — his seventh of the year, 2-0. Three batters later, Topher Jones (Hernando) drove a double into the right center field gap for two RBIs, 4-0.
Two runners reached base on KK Clark (Brandon) in the third inning, but the right-hander picked up a pair of punchouts to prevent damage and preserve the lead. The Wildcats added a run in the bottom half. Jackson Hood (Madison; Germantown) walked and came around to score when Ethan Garner (Gulfport) roped a single into right field, 5-0.
The Eagles broke the shutout in the fifth and could have done more damage if not for Clark's ability to work out of damage. HCC smacked four consecutive singles to score the run and had the bases loaded without any outs. Clark grabbed two quick strikeouts and then forced a ground ball to close out the frame without any further runs, 5-1.
Hinds added a second run in the seventh to move within three, 5-2. Hood instantly matched it in the bottom half of the inning, taking a 2-2 pitch and going the opposite way. The ball looked like it wasn't going to leave the park, but it continued to sail before landing just over the wall in right field, 6-2. The long ball added three more for PRCC a few batters later as Logan Terry (Semmes, Ala.; East Central) bashed his first homer of the season, 9-2.
PRCC allowed another Eagle run in the ninth inning but closed the door to wrap up the game, 9-3.
KK Clark tossed five innings and gave up one run. He scattered eight hits and a walk, striking out eight. Camden Clark (Laurel; West Jones) threw two innings, giving up a run on a hit and walk. Colin Jenkins (Mt. Olive; Simpson Academy) threw a clean inning, picking up one strikeout. Peyton Lacy (Pass Christian) tossed the final frame, allowing a run on a hit and a walk.
Terry finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run. Jaxon Milam (Phenix City, Ala.; Glenwood Academy) was 2-for-5 with two runs scored. Thompson and Jones each drove in two runs.
GAME TWO
The Wildcats again secured some early run support for its pitching staff in the second game, matching its game one first-inning total with four — even scoring its first two runs the same way. Keegan Giger (Petal) ripped a single and scored when Keys hit a two-run homer. Garner tacked on an RBI before the frame closed and then intentionally got caught in a rundown to allow the fourth run to score, 4-0.
Pearl River center fielder Nico Williams (Gulfport) kept a hot streak going in the second inning as he used his 6-foot-5 frame to send a laser over the wall in straightaway center field 5-0.
The Eagles scored a run in the third and two in the fourth to get back into the game, 5-3. PRCC ended the brief momentum swing in the bottom of the fifth with two runs of its own. Milam smacked a ball along the ground and just out of the reach of the sliding HCC second baseman for an RBI. When the right fielder threw the ball back into the infield, Milam took off for second. The Hinds third baseman tried to nab Milam stretching but airmailed the throw to allow Thompson to cross the plate, 7-3.
Everything that could have gone wrong for the Eagles in the bottom of the sixth did go wrong as they made three errors, and PRCC tallied three hits to score six runs, ending the game on the run-rule, 13-3.
Max Miller (Vancleave) earned the win with four innings of three-run baseball. He scattered six hits, walked two and struck out eight. Caleb Dyess (Carriere; Pearl River Central) threw the final two innings and struck out a pair.
Keys had a fantastic game at the plate, wrapping up the night 3-for-3 with four RBIs and three runs scored. Hood was 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Thompson walked twice.
NEXT UP
Pearl River remains at Dub Herring Park on Friday for a 2/5 p.m. doubleheader against Mississippi Delta. The game was previously scheduled for Saturday but has been moved due to potential inclement weather.
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).