Runs not at a premium for No. 2 PRCC in sweep of Mississippi Delta
Dylan Dunaway - PRCC Sports Information Director
POPLARVILLE, Miss. — For a second straight doubleheader, the No. 2 Pearl River baseball team had no trouble getting runners across home plate. The Wildcats exploded for 30 runs against Mississippi Delta, marking a second straight series with at least 30 runs scored. PRCC took game one 19-6 in seven innings and the nightcap 11-1.
"As a whole, we had a pretty good day," Pearl River skipper Michael Avalon said. "I thought that the last two doubleheaders were exactly how we wanted to play. I want us to show up with focus, energy and effort. The focus over the last two series has been so much better."
GAME ONE
Pearl River (24-4 overall; 5-1 MACCC) handed the ball to left-hander Byrion Robinson (Brookhaven) to start the day against Mississippi Delta (7-14-1; 3-3). The sophomore quickly forced three Trojan groundouts to send the Wildcats to the plate.
Gabe Broadus (Wilmer, Ala.; Faith Academy) got the Wildcats off to a good start by reaching base on an error by the Trojan second baseman before making it to third on a groundout soon after. Logan Walters (Petal) brought him home quickly by smashing a single between first and second base. PRCC scored two more runs in the inning on a bases-loaded walk by Parker Ryan (Madison; Jackson Academy) as well as a wild pitch, 3-0.
Robinson worked around a two-out walk in the top of the second to send PRCC right back to the plate to do some damage. For the second time this week, PRCC scored 13 runs in a single inning. Marshall Phillips (Sumrall; Hattiesburg) led off with a single and advanced to third on a Broadus single. PRCC put the hit-and-run on for Soper who smashed a ball into right field for an RBI, allowing Broadus to slide into third. A delayed steal by Soper allowed Broadus to swipe home for the fifth run of the game. Walters scorched a two-run single into left field, extending the lead to 7-0. Blaise Breerwood (Poplarville) picked up an RBI single and Ryan grounded out to score a run. A wild pitch as well as a bases-loaded walk for Alex Perry (McComb; North Pike) brought in a pair. In his second at-bat of the inning, Walters tucked a double down the left field line and into the corner for a two-run double before Ian Montz (Lafayette, La.; Acadiana) capped off the big inning with a towering three-run homer over the right field seats. The big inning sent PRCC into the third with a 16-0 lead.
The Trojans scored their first run of the contest in the top of the third. Ryan helped match it in the bottom frame, singling into center fielder before coming around to score on a wild pitch, 17-1.
PRCC scored a run in each of the fourth and fifth innings to put itself ahead 19-1.
The Trojans scored five runs in the top of the seventh but it wasn't enough to prevent the run-rule as PRCC claimed the contest 19-6.
Walters (pictured) led the way at the plate, going 3-for-4 with three runs scored and six RBIs.
"That's the big thing we need him to do," Avalon said. "We need him to be consistent. He's got a chance of showing up and being a force in the middle of the lineup. He's just tough pitch to."
Perry went 1-for-1 with four runs, two walks and an RBI. Montz finished 1-for-2 with three RBIs.
Robinson pitched three innings, allowing one run on one hit and three walks. He struck out one. Jordan Belsome (Poplarville) threw an inning, walking one. Cameron Fennell (Long Beach) gave up two hits and struck out one in his lone inning of work. JT Schnoor (Pascagoula; Resurrection) struck out one batter in an inning. Brennan Jones (Gulfport; West Harrison) recorded two outs and Luke Lyon (Hattiesburg; Oak Grove) struck out the lone batter he faced.
GAME TWO
PRCC blinked first in the second game, allowing a run on an RBI single. Walters wasted no time giving the Wildcats the lead in the bottom half, going the opposite way for a two-run homer and a 2-1 advantage.
The second inning was highlighted by a pair of first-career homers for the Wildcats. Triston Hickman (Wiggins; Stone County) jumped on the very first pitch of the inning and sent it over the fence to straight away center field. Two batters later, the birthday boy Phillips celebrated the day by blasting a solo shot over left centerfield, 4-1.
"Hickman is a guy that I am really, really proud of," Avalon said. "I'll be the first to tell you that we have a little bit of a question mark in that part of the lineup. He's a guy that can answer that question. I told him today that he needs to go to work. We'd love for him to have good at-bats in that designated hitter spot moving forward."
The Wildcats had a big six-run fourth frame to move ahead 10-1. PRCC loaded up the bases for Broadus who slashed an RBI single into left center field. Two more Wildcats scored after the Mississippi Delta pitcher's pickoff attempt was sent rolling down the left field line. On a 2-0 count, Soper laced an RBI single into center field. Perry capped off the big inning with a long ball, smashing a two-run shot off the scoreboard in right field. The blast was his sixth homer of the season.
Breerwood's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth brought home the final run for the Wildcats to extend the lead to 11-1.
PRCC reliever Bobby Magee (Petal) tossed a quick top of the seventh to secure the victory and a second consecutive series sweep for the Wildcats.
Broadus, Walters, Hickman and Phillips each collected two hits in the game. Perry went 1-for-2 with two walks. Perry and Walters both collected two RBIs on the day.
Dennis earned the victory, tossing four innings of one-run baseball. The sophomore gave up three hits and one walk while striking out six. Will Passeau (Mobile, Ala.; St. Paul's) struck out three batters and walked two in his one inning of work. Left-hander Blake Gollott (D'Iberville) struck out two batters in his one inning pitched. Magee pitched the final inning, striking out one.
UP NEXT
PRCC returns to Dub Herring Park on Tuesday for an NJCAA top-10 matchup against sixth-ranked Meridian. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 3 p.m.
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. 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 at 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).
