Walk-off propels No. 2 Wildcats to sweep of No. 7 Jones College

Dylan Dunaway - PRCC Sports Information Director

POPLARVILLE, Miss. — Following a non-conference loss to Jones College just under two months ago, the Pearl River baseball program vowed to get better from it. 

It's safe to say the No. 2 Wildcats learned something from the hiccup. Under the lights at a packed Dub Herring Park Wednesday night, the Wildcats got their revenge, throttling the No. 7 Bobcats 9-1 in game one and taking a 3-2 thriller in the nightcap for a sweep.

"I'm extremely thankful for this group — that's a big win for our guys," head coach Michael Avalon said. "That's our rival, and they gave us all we could handle in game two. We saw two of the best arms that we've seen in conference back-to-back. They (Jones College) deserve a lot of credit.

"Baseball is played at its best when the score is 3-2. Everyone wants the home run or the big score, but there's something about the pitch-for-pitch battle. The atmosphere was just different tonight."

With four games to go, Pearl River has a three-game lead at the top of the MACCC standings. PRCC has clinched at least a No. 1 or No. 2 finish in the MACCC and will host a regional May 5-9 at Dub Herring Park.

GAME ONE

Camden Clark (Laurel; West Jones) was handed the ball for Pearl River (42-6 overall; 22-2 MACCC) against Jones College (33-12; 19-7). Although a runner reached in each of the first two innings, Clark didn't allow any damage — even striking out the side in the second frame. Clark made his lone mistake of the game in the third inning as the Bobcats jumped on the first pitch and sent it over the wall for a solo homer, 1-0.

PRCC went quietly in the third but broke through for two runs in the fourth, using the rare safety squeeze to get in started. With runners at the corners, Logan Terry (Semmes, Ala.; East Central) placed a perfect bunt to the right side that allowed the Wildcats to score the opening run and moved another runner into scoring position. The next run scored on some help from the Bobcats. Logan Fontenelle (Biloxi) hit a ball deep into the hole at shortstop, which was fielded cleanly. The freshman beat the throw to first base, and the throw to first base got away, allowing him to move up a base and run to score 2-1 PRCC.

Two more runs scored in the fifth for the Wildcats, who picked up its runs with the long ball. Topher Jones (Hernando) reached base with a two-out single and Jaxon Milam (Phenix City, Ala.; Glenwood Academy) made the Bobcats pay by demolishing a two-run homer, 4-1.

Max Miller (Vancleave) took over with one out and two runners on base in the sixth inning. Miller walked the first batter he faced and looked to be in some trouble, but a weak ground ball back to the mound and a groundout to shortstop closed the frame without any damage, 4-1. An inning later, Miller retired the side in order but not without the help of Fontenelle, who made an incredible play in right fielder. He ranged far to his right and dove to snag a ball destined for the gap.

PRCC returned to scoring in the bottom of the seventh. The first two Wildcats of the inning reached base, and Ethan Garner (Gulfport) dropped a hit into no-man's land, allowing him to cruise into second with an RBI double. Fontenelle continued his incredible game soon after, roping a two-run single into right field, 7-1.

Pearl River tacked on its final two runs of the game in the eighth as Caston Thompson (Jayess; Brookhaven Academy) knocked an RBI double and scored on a Jones RBI single, 9-1. Miller secured the victory in the ninth, facing just four batters before closing it out.

Milam was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a homer. He scored three runs. Fontenelle went 3-for-3 with a pair of RBIs. Jones and Garner both were 2-for-4 with an RBI. 

Clark threw 5 1/3 innings of one-run baseball, scattering seven this and three walks. He struck out nine Bobcats. Miller earned the save, giving up one hit and one walk in 3 2/3 innings of work. He tallied two punchouts.

GAME TWO

In game one, things looked easy for Pearl River, but that wasn't the case in the nightcap. Although KK Clark (Brandon) was nearly untouchable through the first five innings, and Jones gave the Wildcats a two-run lead with a first-inning blast, the Bobcats erased the deficit in the sixth.

With two outs, the Bobcats had two runners on the basepaths. Clark got a batter into a two-strike count but clipped him with a breaking ball to load things up. The right-hander again got into a pitcher's count, but Jones College knocked a ball past the diving Thompson and down the right field line for a two-run single, 2-2. Despite the hiccup, Avalon opted to stick with his starting pitcher, and Clark promptly struck out the next batter to close the frame. 

Carson Fair (Southaven) took over for Clark in the seventh and retired the Bobcats in order. Despite getting the winning run into scoring position in the seventh, Jones College worked out of the trouble. Fair battled back from a two-out single in the eighth to send PRCC back to the plate for what proved to be the final time. A pitch plunked Thompson to lead off the inning, and Jones bashed a double into the left-center field gap to get them both into scoring position. The Bobcats intentionally walked a batter to load the bases and made a pitching change. The new pitcher's first pitch was behind Terry and went to the backstop, allowing Thompson to score the game-winning run, 3-2.

Kyler King (Picayune) went 3-for-3 in the contest. Jones was the only other Wildcat with multiple hits, finishing 2-for-4 with two RBIs, one double and one homer.

Clark threw six innings, striking out nine. He allowed two runs on three hits and a walk. Fair earned the win, giving up one hit and striking out three in two innings.

NEXT UP

Pearl River heads to Booneville Saturday for a 2/5 p.m. doubleheader against Northeast. The games will be livestreamed at NEMCCTV.com.

Games will also be available over the air in Pearl River County by tuning into 1320-AM and 106.9 FM. The radio broadcast is also available at WRJWRadio.com and by downloading the WRJW app.For the latest on Pearl River Community College athletics, follow us on X (@PRCCAthletics) and Facebook (PRCCAthletics).