POPLARVILLE, Miss. — Revenge was sweet for the No. 2 Pearl River baseball team Tuesday night.
Just over a month after a deflating loss to rival Gulf Coast in a non-conference showdown, the Wildcats made a statement by racking up 17 punchouts, pilling up 15 extra-base hits and torching the Bulldogs for 25 runs in a conference sweep. Pearl River took the opener 13-3 in seven innings and the nightcap 12-2 in five.
"I'm really proud of the way we played. We swung the bats from the beginning until the end. We put them away," head coach Michael Avalon said. "The beauty about this team is that they've gotten better and better as the year has progressed. We have to continue to be willing to get better, work and find improvement. We saw a lot of good things today from our guys."
With other results around the MACCC, Pearl River now holds a two-game lead at the top of the standings with eight games to play.
GAME ONE
Camden Clark (Laurel; West Jones) escaped a jam to open the day against Gulf Coast (30-16 overall; 12-8 MACCC), allowing Pearl River (38-6; 18-2) to put the Bulldogs on their heels in the bottom of the first. Keegan Giger (Petal) was a true tone-setter at the top of the lineup, bashing a 1-1 pitch flying the opposite way and over the wall, 1-0. The bats kept going for PRCC following the long ball. A runner reached on an error before Topher Jones (Hernando) and Jaxon Milam (Phenix City, Ala.; Glenwood Academy) hit back-to-back RBI doubles, 3-0.
Clark kept the Bulldogs quiet in the second and third frames before MGCCC broke the shutout in the fourth with an RBI groundout. Luckily, PRCC responded with two runs on four hits in the fifth. Just as he's done all season long, Caston Thompson (Jayess; Brookhaven Academy) came through when it mattered, lacing a two-run single back up the middle to stretch the Wildcat lead back out, 5-1.
Two more crossed the plate for Pearl River in the sixth as Jacob Keys (Brandon) put his all into a hanging curveball, sending it well over the left field wall for a two-run home run, 7-1. MGCCC matched the runs in its half of the seventh, but Pearl River put its foot on the gas to close things out in the bottom half. It was a seventh-inning six-spot that helped the Wildcats run-rule the Bulldogs. Jackson Hood (Madison; Germantown) got the scoring in the inning started with a bang, demolishing the second pitch thrown to him for a two-run blast. Logan Terry (Semmes, Ala.; East Central) and Conner Dyess (Carriere; Pearl River Central) were aboard when the next big blow happened. The left-handed hitting Giger ripped a ball down the right field line and deep into the corner for a bases-clearing triple, 11-3. The Wildcats weren't done there as Jones followed with a game-ending two-run double, 13-3 in seven innings.
Clark threw 3 2/3 innings, allowing one run on four hits. The right-hander struck out four. Max Miller (Vancleave) earned the win in relief, going 3 1/3 innings with two runs allowed. He walked three, gave up two hits and tallied three strikeouts.
Giger had an incredible day from the top of the order, finishing a double shy of the cycle. He went 3-for-5 with three RBIs, one home run and one triple. Jones had a three-hit day, driving in three runs and doubling twice. Keys and Milam each had two hits. Both of Milam's hits were doubles, and Keys had a double and a homer.
GAME TWO
The momentum carried over into the nightcap for the Wildcats. KK Clark (Brandon) worked out of some early trouble — but couldn't have gotten it done without an incredible effort from his second baseman, Giger. The sophomore ranged far to his left, dove and trapped a ball that was destined for an RBI single. He quickly hopped to his feet and fired to first for the out.
"That play Giger made in the first inning shows you how tough he is," Avalon said. "He's a really good player, and he'ssaved so many runs for us."
The Wildcat offense rewarded Clark's efforts with a massive first-inning five-spot. An RBI double by Jones opened the scoring, and a Milam groundout scored the next. A wild pitch brought Jones across the plate, and Terry cashed in with a two-run single, 5-0.
Four more runs for the Wildcats increased the lead to 9-0 in the bottom of the second. Milam tacked on an RBI double, Hood pushed across two with a single and Ethan Garner (Gulfport) blooped a single between the second baseman and right fielder for a run, 9-0.
After a quiet third frame, Pearl River got back to scoring in the fourth with three runs. Jones put his all into a swing and hit a line drive that continued to rise before sailing over the center field wall for a leadoff solo shot, 10-0. Jones was one-upped a few batters later by Chap Cook (Canton; Canton Academy). He earned a pinch-hit opportunity, worked a 3-1 count, and was sitting fastball. The pitch was right where Cook wanted it, and he unleashed a mighty swing. The ball was out of the ballpark in a hurry as it flew over the right field scoreboard for a two-run homer — the first of his collegiate career, 12-0.
Gulf Coast ended the shutout with two solo homers in the fifth inning, but Clark responded well and punched out the final two batters of the game to secure the win 12-2 in five innings.
Clark threw all five innings of the contest, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks. Both runs allowed were solo home runs. The right-hander tied his season-high with 10 strikeouts.
"That guy pitched his tail off," Avalon said. "He's a special arm, and we're thankful he's a Wildcat."
Jones and Hood each had two hits and two RBIs. Milam and Cook tacked on two RBIs.
NEXT UP
Pearl River heads to East Mississippi Friday for a 2 p.m. doubleheader against the Lions. The doubleheader will be livestreamed at EMCCLive.com.
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).