Blue Devils rally for dramatic 6-5 win to take series over Long Beach

Carriere--Down to their last at bat, Pearl River Central rallied for four runs to take a 6-5 win over Long Beach and sweep the series in the third round of the Class 5A South State playoffs.

Long Beach starter Austin Allen had a no-hitter and a 4-0 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth. The Blue Devils first hit was a sharp single to left by Caleb Tynes to drive in two runs to make it 4-2. Eli Lee walked and Connor Holston was hit by a pitch to setup Tynes hit.

Long Beach scored a run in the top of the seventh against Hayden Dunhurst who came on in relief in his first appearance on the mound of the season. Dunhurst replaced Blake Craft who pitched well as he relieved starter Cade Lee who was pulled with two outs in the top of the fifth.

In the bottom of the seventh, Cade Lee started the dramatic rally with a single to left and Tristian Schlottman followed with a single to left. Austen Izzio tripled to the wall in left centerfield to drive in the two runners. Dunhurst then fought off six two strike pitches before he singled to centerfield to score Izzio and tie the game at 5-5. Allen was replaced by Scotty Spears.

Eli Lee greeted Spears with a single to left and Connor Holston laid down a perfect bunt near the third base line and beat it out for a single to load the bases. Josh Kennedy hit a grounder to second base and second baseman Dylan Bursell made a great play fielding the ball and throwing to his catcher Dalton Cook to get the force out at home on Dunhurst. Caleb Tynes then drilled a line drive off Spears leg to bring in Lee with the winning run.

Pearl River Central will now advance to a rematch of last year's South State Championship against Hattiesburg. Game 1 will be at Hattiesburg on Thursday at 7:00pm with Game 2 in Carriere on Friday at 7:00pm.