River sweeps Hinds

RAYMOND Pearl River Wildcats pulled off an 11-inning 3-2 victory over Hinds in the first game of an MACJC South Division doubleheader here Saturday before bouncing back with a dominating 13-3 win in six innings over the Eagles. PRCC improved to 19-9 overall and 6-4 in the division play with the sweep, while HCC dropped to 15-12 and 2-9. In the first game, the Wildcats went up 2-0 in the top of the first with the Eagles scoring a solo run in the bottom of the second before tying it up in the bottom of the seventh. The River scored the winning run in the top of the 11th inning. Hunter Curtis (2-1) of Petal High got the win after relieving starter Buck Bernard of Petal High in the seventh. Curtis went four-and-one-thirds innings, striking out three and walking three; while Bernard, a Southeastern Louisiana signee who prepped at Petal High, struck out six and walked two in his six-and-two-thirds innings on the mound. Cullin Babin (2-1) got the loss after relieving starter Taylor Wheaton in the fifth. He pitched six innings, striking out four and walking one; while Wheaton struck out three in his five innings on the mound. B.J. Smith paced the Wildcats 11-hit attack with a home run and a single (two RBIs), while James Abraham, a Southeastern Louisiana transfer who prepped at St. Stanislaus in Bay St. Louis, doubled and singled. Chase Lewallen of Sumrall High and Jordan Williams out of Christian County High in Hopkinsville, Ky., had two singles each; while Ethan Ewoldt of Oak Grove High, Aaron lee of Pearl River Central High, and Chase Toussaint of Petal High all had base hits. The Eagles finished with nine hits, led by Tyler Akins with a double and a single; while Pierson Waring had two base hits, Ryno Martin-nex doubled, and Caleb Baucum, Morris Grant, Travious Roberts, and Adam Thigpen all singled. In the nightcap game, PRCC went up 3-0 in the top of the second with HCC scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame before the Wildcats blew it open with a five-run barrage in the top of the third to make it 8-2. The River scored two ini the top of the fourth, two in the fifth, and one in the sixth to take the win via the 10-run rule. Hinds scored its final run in the bottom of the fifth. Starter Robert Marzoni (6-0) of Purvis High got the win in going the six-inning distance, giving up four hits, striking out three, and walking two. Eagle starter Chase Wroten (2-2) got the loss in his two-and-one-thirds innings on the mound, striking out three and walking three; while Carey Taylor relieved in the third, Zach LaSuzzo and Michael Porter in the fourth, Jay Harper in the fifth, and Ethan Bright in the sixth. Lee led the Wildcats 15-hit effort with three singles, while Matthew Magee of Petal High homered and singled, Lewallen doubled and singled, Derek Sanders of Simpson Academy and Williams had two singles each, Smith and Toussaint both dobuled, and Abraham and Grae Ormon of Clinton High both singled. Morris Grant homered and singled for Hinds, while Sean Weaver homered and Martin-nex singled. Pearl River and Hinds eye a division rematch Wednesday, April 27, in Poplarville. The Wildcats host division foe Copiah-Lincoln Tuesday in a 4 p.m. doubleheader, while Pensacola (Fla.) and LSU-Eunice (La.) visit Saturday for games at 12 noon and 6 p.m., respectively.

Each community college president is asked to bring two (2) wrapped door prizes, minimum value of $50 each. We will have a station set up at the conference for you to drop off the door prizes.

Each community college is asked to provide name tags for their Board members, administration, and staff attending the conference.