FULTON, Miss. — The No. 2 Pearl River baseball team accomplished an incredible feat Friday afternoon at Itawamba as it scored multiple runs in every inning of a doubleheader and plated an incredible 44 total runs. The Wildcats opened the day with a 24-6 seven-inning victory and followed with a 20-0 five-inning win in game two.
"We capitalized on runners in scoring position. We were disciplined with the strike zone," head coach Michael Avalon said. "Sometimes, you leave frustrated as a coach because you left runners on. Today, we cashed in throughout the day. Our offense did a really good job.
"As far as our pitching goes, I was proud of what we did. The wind was blowing out, so it was an offensive ballpark today. We defended really well behind them."
GAME ONE
Pearl River (33-5 overall; 13-1 MACCC) got off to an incredible start, and it carried throughout its first game of the day against Itawamba (19-17; 6-10). The Wildcats scored an incredible 24 runs — the most in a game since at least 2013.
Three consecutive hit batsmen loaded the bases for PRCC in the top of the first before Jaxon Milam (Phenix City, Ala. Glenwood Academy) opened the scoring with a two-run single, 2-0. An inning later, PRCC used the long ball to grow the lead. After loading the bases, Caston Thompson (Jayess; Brookhaven Academy) left the yard the opposite way for a grand slam, 6-0.
ICC got two back in the bottom of the second. PRCC's second home run came in the third as Topher Jones (Hernando) put a good swing on the ball and sent it over the left field wall. Ethan Garner (Gulfport) doubled and scored on a Nico Williams (Gulfport) single before the frame ended, 8-2.
In the fourth, PRCC scored a run on a bases-loaded walk by Jackson Hood (Madison; Germantown) before the Wildcats hit their second grand slam of the day. The long ball came off the bat of Jones — his second of the day, 13-2. PRCC added two more before the inning ended to lead 15-2.
A two-run error by the Indians in the top of the fifth pushed PRCC in front 17-2. ICC responded with a three-run homer in the bottom half of the frame, 17-5. In the sixth, the Wildcats received a two-run single from Jones. Logan Fontenelle (Biloxi) then earned a pinch-hit opportunity and sent a two-run homer flying over the left field wall, 21-5.
Itawamba scored its final run of the game in the sixth, 21-6. In the top of the seventh, A bases-loaded walk by Milam was followed by sacrifice flies from Jones and Fontenelle to cap the scoring, 24-6.
Patrick Spencer Jr. (Greenville; Washington School) earned the win with four innings of two-run baseball. He allowed two hits and two walks and struck out seven. Jenkins threw 1 1/3 innings and Landon Watts (Picayune) tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
Jones had an unbelievable game, going 3-for-5 with eight RBIs, three runs scored and two homers. His eight RBIs are a modern record for RBIs in a game.
"We can compare him to Alex Wade from last season," Avalon said. "He came in during the break, and as he's getting more comfortable, he's getting better. You saw his comfort today, and we're glad he's a Wildcat."
Thompson was 2-for-3 with four runs and four RBIs. Milam and Fontenelle had three RBIs apiece. Hank Eaton (Corinth; Kossuth) and Milam each walked three times.
GAME TWO
The Wildcats scored three runs on four hits in the first inning as Jones picked up an RBI single, Milam had an RBI double and Hood knocked a sacrifice fly, 3-0. Five more runs came in the second as the Wildcats received RBIs from Giger, Jones and Hood in the frame, 8-0.
Thompson extended the lead to double digits in the third frame. Giger and Jacob Keys (Brandon) walked, and Thompson cashed in with a two-run double, 10-0.
A passed ball, an Eaton RBI single and a two-run Keys double made the score 14-0 in the fourth frame. Pearl River sent 12 to the plate in the fifth inning and scored six runs. Tyrese Johnson (West Point), Fontenelle, Giger and Chap Cook (Canton; Canton Academy) each had RBIs in the frame as the Wildcats extended the lead to 20-0.
Jacob Johnson (Carriere; Pearl River Central) threw four scoreless innings to earn the win. He allowed two hits and two walks, striking out six. Drew Harrison (Madison; Germantown) threw the final inning, striking out one.
Milam finished the game 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Jones added three more RBIs to his total with a 2-for-3 showing at the plate. Hood tallied one hit and drove in three runs. Giger, Keys, Thompson, Cook and Johnson had two RBIs apiece.
NEXT UP
Pearl River returns to Dub Herring Park Wednesday afternoon as the Wildcats take on Copiah-Lincoln at 3/6 p.m.
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).