No. 5 Pearl River thumps No. 3 Meridian in Region 23 Tournament opener

Dylan Dunaway - PRCC Sports Information Director

EUNICE, La. — The No. 5 Pearl River baseball team played like it had something to prove Monday afternoon in its Region 23 Tournament opener against No. 3 Meridian, running away with a 14-6 eight-inning, run-rule victory over the Eagles.

"That's the way you draw it up and it doesn't always go like that," Pearl River coach Michael Avalon said. "We needed Passeau to come out and give us a great start and he did that. His stuff was really good today. We will get a good 24-hour break, get hydrated and be ready to go again tomorrow."

With the victory, Pearl River advances to take on the winner of LSU Eunice and Northeast on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.

Pearl River (44-11) put the pressure on the Eagles (38-11) right from the start with a first-inning three-spot. Preston Soper(Madison; Germantown) got the rally started by knocking the third pitch he saw into the gap for a leadoff double. Alex Perry (McComb; North Pike) wasted no time bringing Soper across the plate as he smashed the first pitch delivered to him into left field. Perry scored moments later when Triston Hickman (Wiggins; Stone County) mashed a double into the gap. Hunter Sute (Tuscaloosa, Ala.; American Christian) battled to bring Hickman home with a line drive single into center field.

Tristian Hickman (Wiggins;Stone) celebrates a first inning double.

PRCC extended its lead to 5-0 in the second inning. Marshall Phillips (Hattiesburg; Sumrall) and Alex Perry (McComb; North Pike) were both hit by a pitch and came around to score when Logan Walters (Petal) sent a two-run double into center field.

The Eagles matched PRCC in the frame with two runs of their own and added another run in the third inning to pull within two, 5-3.

PRCC added an insurance run in the fourth inning. The frame started with a Phillips double and a Soper single. Perry then grounded into a double play but it got the job done, allowing Phillips to cross the plate and extending the lead to 6-3.

The Wildcats really put it on the Eagles in the fifth inning, striking for six runs, doing all of its damage with two outs. Phillips picked up the first RBI of the inning with a single into right field. Soper followed by dropping a two-run single in front of the crashing MCC center fielder. Back-to-back walks by Perry and Soper added on another, and Hickman wrapped up the scoring in the frame with a two-run double. After the big frame, PRCC held on to a large 12-3 lead.

An inning later, Sute scored on a wild pitch to add on, 13-3. Meridian didn't fold in its half of the sixth, scoring three runs on a pair of Wildcat errors to avoid the run-rule and make it a 13-6 ball game.

Soper continued his great day at the plate in the eighth inning by chopping an infield single and picking up an RBI to move the game right back into run-rule territory, 14-6.

Bobby Magee (Petal) sent all three batters that came to the plate right back to the dugout to secure the 14-6 victory in eight innings.

Passeau was fantastic for the Wildcats. Although he gave up five runs, only one of them was earned. The right-hander gave up just five hits and two walks while striking out six. Magee threw the final 2 2/3 innings and allowed an unearned run. He struck out one.

Soper was nearly impossible to get out for the Eagles, finishing 4-for-5 with three RBIs, two runs scored and a walk. Hickman was 2-for-4 with three RBIs, two runs and a walk. Sute, Katsaboulas and Phillips all finished with two hits in the game.

TUNE IN

The entirety of the Region 23 Tournament will be livestreamed on the LSUE Digital Sports Network. Games can also be heard at WRJW 1320-AM, 106.9 FM and WRJWRadio.com with Carey Meitzler on the call.

For the latest on Pearl River Community College athletics, follow us on Twitter (@PRCCAthletics) and Facebook (PRCCAthletics)

Dylan Dunaway

Pearl River Community College