Wildcats split doubleheader against Pensacola State

POPLARVILLE – Pearl River Community College had mixed results Wednesday in a doubleheader against Pensacola State (Fla.) at Dub Herring Park.

The Wildcats used a big inning to come from behind and win the opener 9-6, but defensive mistakes proved costly as the visiting Pirates rallied to take the nightcap 6-3, handing PRCC its first loss of the season.

Pearl River (3-1) fell behind early, as Pensacola State (8-8) roughed up freshman starter Miles Smith (Laurel) for four runs on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings, including two runs on three hits in the top of the fourth inning.

Sophomore Camden Dusang (Carriere) got the Wildcats out of the inning, and he was the beneficiary of two runs in the bottom of the inning.

Freshman Wiley Cleland (Columbia) stroked a one-out single, took third on an error and scored on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Scooter Ginn (Columbia). Freshman Luke Harper (Meridian) drove in the second run with a single.

The Wildcats broke the game open with a seven-run rally in the sixth inning, sending 11 batters to the plate.

Redshirt freshman Matt Taylor (Raleigh) and Ginn opened the inning with singles, then freshman Magruder O’Bannon (Long Beach) drew a walk to load the bases. The Pirates got a strikeout, but sophomore Derek Eberly (Blountstown, Fla) drew a walk to score a run, and redshirt sophomore Bryson Medious (Columbia) was hit by a pitch to score the tying run.

Sophomore Simon Landry (Ponchatoula, La.) smacked a two-run single, freshman Noah Barron (Hoover, Ala.) had an RBI single, Cleland drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and freshman Shemar Page (Raleigh) came off the bench for a run-scoring double.

Dusang (1-0) was credited with the win after pitching 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, allowing two hits and striking out three, with no walks.

Freshman Colin Danley (Lucedale) and sophomore Luke Bradley (Pass Christian) finished up on the mound, each allowing a run on one hit.

Sophomore ace Colby White (Foxworth) started the nightcap for the Wildcats, and he was solid in four innings of work, allowing a run in the third inning on two hits. He struck out 2 and walked two.

PRCC got the run back and more in the bottom of the third, scoring three runs, all on a two-out, bases-loaded double by Cleland.

However, he was thrown out trying to stretch it to a triple and that was the first of several base-running mistakes that cost the Wildcats chances to score runs.

Pearl River had a runner picked off in the fourth, one caught stealing in the fifth and a runner called out on catcher’s interference in the sixth.

That left the door open for the Pirates to rally for three unearned runs in the top of the sixth off redshirt freshman reliever Derek Usry (Lake), who was tagged with the loss.

The Wildcats committed two errors in the inning, including a booted double-play ball that would have gotten Usry out of the inning without a run allowed.

Pensacola State added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh, and PRCC went down in order in the bottom of the inning.

The Wildcats will make their first road trip of the season on Saturday, when they travel to Mobile, Ala., to face Bishop State for a noondoubleheader. Pearl River returns home Tuesday to face Jeff Davis (Ala.).

PRCC BASEBALL LINESCORES Wednesday at Poplarville

Pearl River 9, Pensacola State (Fla.) 6

PSCC 101 200 011 – 6 11 2

PRCC 000 207 00x – 9 12 0

PENSACOLA STATE (7-8): James Parris 3 1B; Richard Sorrenti 1B; Josh Rulli 2B, 1B; Jake Nemith 1B; Malique Foreman HR (solo); Graham Dvorak 1B; Bucky McGlamry 2 1B. LP – Aaron Ginn (0-1). Also pitching – Alex Tyson (starter).

PEARL RIVER (3-0): Derek Eberly 2B; Bryson Medious 2 1B, 2B; Simon Landry 2 1B; Noah Barron 1B; Wiley Cleland 1B; Matt Taylor 2 1B; Shmar Page 2B; Scooter Ginn 1B; Magruder O’Bannon 1B; Deyton Lingle 1B. WP – Camden Dusang (1-0). Also pitching – Miles Smith (starter); Colin Danley; Luke Bradley.

Pensacola State 6, Pearl River 3

PSCC 001 003 2 – 6 7 1

PRCC 003 000 0 – 3 4 2

PENSACOLA STATE (8-8): James Parris 1B; Richard Sorrenti 2B; Griffin Rivers 1B; Jake Nemith 1B; Malique Foreman 1B; Bryan Eusebio 1B; Fausto Lopez 1B. WP – Jared Hatch (1-0). Save – Jon Ryan Breeden (1).

PEARL RIVER (3-1): Bryson Medious 1B; Simon Landry 2 1B; Wiley Cleland 2B. LP – Dylan Usry (0-1). Also pitching – Colby White (starter); Deyton Lingle; Jerod Meggs.

PHOTO CAPTIONS

Pearl River sophomore Derek Eberly slides head-first across home plate for a run during baseball action against Pensacola State (Fla.) Wednesday at Poplarville.