No. 1 Pearl River’s offense explodes for 28 runs in home debut
Dylan Dunaway - PRCC Sports Information Director
POPLARVILLE, Miss. — The No. 1 Pearl River baseball team's home opener couldn't have been much better as the Wildcat offense exploded to sweep NJCAA Division I opponent Enterprise State. PRCC took game one 11-1 before snatching the nightcap 17-4.
"We played extremely hard, swung the bats well and ran the bases well throughout the day," Pearl River coach Michael Avalon said. "We talked about putting pressure on the other team and that's really what we did today. I think we still have some things to work on like our ability to hit with runners in scoring position. We left a few too many at third base."
GAME ONE
Pearl River (6-0 overall) didn't waste any time scoring for the first time at Dub Herring Park, plating a run in the very first inning. The second batter of the inning, Blaise Breerwood (Poplarville), sent a fly ball down the right field line that fell in for a double. Alex Perry (McComb; North Pike) then stepped to the dish and laced a single into left field to drive him home for a 1-0 lead.
Enterprise State (1-3) matched the run in the top of the second, belting a solo homer over the left field wall.
The Wildcats stretched out the lead to 4-1 in the bottom half of the inning. Blake Hooks (Petal) popped a ball down the right field line. The second baseman dashed out trying to make the catch, but it fell and rolled into foul territory for a triple. With two outs, Parker Ryan (Madison; Jackson Academy) hit a ball off the end of his bat that was mishandled by the Boll Weevil third baseman and allowed Hooks to score. Gabe Broaus (Wilmer, Ala.; Faith Academy) and Breerwood drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. A wild pitch allowed Ryan to score and Broadus to advance to third. Breerwood swiped second base on the next pitch and the throw down allowed Broadus to grab home.
Will Passeau (Mobile, Ala.; St Paul's) was electric in the fourth inning, tallying three consecutive strikeouts to send PRCC right back to the plate where PRCC added two more runs, 7-1. Broadus and Preston Soper (Madison; Germantown) each drew a walk and then Logan Walters (Petal) smashed the first pitch he saw into the left centerfield gap for a two-run double.
"When he's throwing the breaking ball like that, that's tough to hit at any level," Avalon said." We were very excited to see him go out there and do that. His breaking ball is incredible."
Blake Gollott (Saucier; D'Iberville) took over to begin the sixth and delivered a quick 1-2-3 inning with the help of two strikeouts.
At the start of the sixth, Soper singled and then stole second base. Walters stepped to the dish and drove a single into center field to bring him home. Ian Montz (Lafayette, La.; Acadian) was then plunked by a pitch. Marshall Phillips (Hattiesburg; Sumrall) pinch hit for the Wildcats and laced an 0-1 pitch into left field for an RBI double. A ground out off the bat of Cole Fletcher (Picayune; St. Stanislaus) allowed another run to score. The Wildcats put an end to the game one batter later as Breerwood grounded into a fielder's choice to put the game into a run-rule, 11-1.
Passeau finished with five innings pitched and a stellar 11 strikeouts against one run and three hits. Gollott finished with one inning pitched and two strikeouts.
Soper finished 3-for-3 with three runs and a walk. Walters went 2-for-4 with a run and two RBIs.
GAME TWO
The Boll Weevils snatched the momentum with a first-inning run, but the Wildcats wasted no time matching it as the leadoff batter, Broadus, crushed a 1-0 pitch over the wall to tie it up, 1-1. PRCC loaded the bases and then plated a run after Montz was hit by a pitch, 2-1.
PRCC pushed out the lead to 5-2 in the second courtesy of hometown product Breerwood. Phillips led off with a double and Broadus singled in his next at-bat, Breerwood then stepped to the dish and smoked the sixth pitch of his at-bat over the left centerfield wall. Perry followed it up with a triple and eventually scored as Montz was caught in a run-down, making the score 6-2.
The Wildcats plated an incredible eight runs in the bottom of the third inning. Katsaboulas reached on an error and then made it to second on another error by the Boll Weevils. Phillips drew a walk and then Broadus grabbed an RBI single. Phillips came around to score shortly after on a flyout. Perry picked up an RBI in the next at-bat with a single. Walters kept the momentum going by belting his first round-tripper of 2023 to drive in three runs. Two more Enterprise State errors allowed two more runs to score before the inning ended with PRCC ahead 15-2.
PRCC added a pair in the fourth, doing its damage with two outs. Perry walked and back-to-back singles from Triston Hickman (Wiggins; Stone County) and Fletcher allowed him to cross home plate. Hunter Sute (Tuscaloosa, Ala.; American Christian Academy) capped the scoring with an RBI single.
ESCC grabbed two back in the fifth, but Jordan Belsome (Poplarville) entered the game and slammed the door to secure the 17-4 victory.
Broadus went 3-for-4 with three runs and two RBIs. Perry went 3-for-3 with four runs and an RBI. Walters rounded out those with multiple hits, finishing 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Breerwood went 1-for-4 with three RBIs and a home run.
Blaise Breerwood slides at third base against Enterprise State
"I know Dr. Breerwood is smiling watching his son follow in his footsteps," Avalon said. "That's very special. Blaise plays hard every day and is the hardest worker that I'veever coached. It's been fun to watch him grow and I'm excited to see that continue."
Luke Lyon (Hattiesburg; Oak Grove) pitched the first two innings, allowing two runs, two walks and one hit and struck out two. Hooks earned the victory after pitching a clean third inning with a pair of punchouts. Cameron Fennell (Long Beach) and Byrion Robinson (Brookhaven) combined to get three outs. Brennan Jones (Gulfport; West Harrison) and Belsome pitched the final inning of the night.
NEXT UP
PRCC returns to Dub Herring Park Tuesday for a 2 p.m. doubleheader against Coastal Alabama South.
TICKETING
Season and single-game tickets for Pearl River baseball are available now and can be purchased at PRCCAthletics.com/Tickets.
CASHLESS BOX OFFICE
To help improve traffic flow and fan experience, PRCC athletics box offices are cashless in 2022-23. Only credit and debit cards will be accepted at the box office. Fans are encouraged to beat the lines and purchase their tickets in advance.
TUNE IN
Pearl River livestreams all home games for free at PRCCMedia.com/Gold. Fans who have 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 can also be heard on WRJW 1320-AM, 106.9 FM and WRJWRadio.com.
For the latest on Pearl River Community College athletics, follow us on Twitter (@PRCCAthletics) and Facebook (PRCCAthletics).
