POPLARVILLE, Miss. — The NJCAA top 10 match between No. 2 Pearl River and No. 8 Meridian turned out to be the battle everyone expected. The Wildcats rode an emotional game a 5-3 victory before falling in the last drink 8-5.
“It’s a good share. Thanks to them in the second game. That arm was really good,” said head coach Michael Avalon. “I thought we had chances at the start of the second game and we didn’t cash in and I thought it would cost us late. We did what we had to do today to get the split. That’ was a good win in the first game and a tough one in the second game.
FIRST GAME
Pearl River (29-9 overall; 17-5 MACCC) sent Turner Switchak (Hattiesburg; Oak Grove) to face the Eagle squad. The right-hander worked unscathed through the first two innings to put his team back at the plate in the third inning.
DK Donaldson (Gulfport; West Harrison) and Taylor Woodcock (Pass Christian; West Harrison) each walked a base to start the inning and Gabe Broadus (Wilmer, Ala.; Faith Academy) loaded the bases with a bunt single. John Griffin Bell (Mobile, Ala.; Faith Academy) then activated an inside pitch and drove it over the shortstop’s head for an RBI single. On the very next ground, Tate Parker (Gulfport; West Harrison) threw a fly ball into right field for a sacrifice fly. Broadus then came on to score on the wild pitch, giving the Wildcats a 3-0 lead.
The Eagles (25-11; 13-7) managed to put a pair of runners in scoring position late in the fourth inning, but a big punch from Swistak sent them back into the dugout.
An insurance run was added by the Wildcats in the lower half of the frame. Woodcock started the inning with a first single and quickly swept second base. After a deep flyout, Woodcock scored and advanced to third base. Bell walked on four straight pitches, then Parker’s pick of a defenseman made it 4-0.
The sixth inning saw the Eagles cut the deficit in half, hitting a two-run homer to make it 4-2.
Despite the previous tough round, Swistak again took the mound in the seventh. The decision paid off for the Wildcats as he forced a groundout and struck out two batters.
Bell grabbed a much-needed insurance run for the Wildcats in the eighth inning. The shortstop lit the first pitch he saw and sent it over the left field wall to make it 5-2.
The Eagles scored on wild pitch in the bottom of the eighth to regain the lead once again, 5-3. In the ninth inning, Meridian charged the bases, but Cole Tolbert (Laurel; West Jones) managed to force a steal to end the contest.
Swistak finished the night with seven innings pitched, scattering six hits, two walks and two runs. He struck out seven batters.
“Turner was good today,” Avalon said. “His speed in the seventh moto was still as good as in the first moto. That’s what we needed. He gave us a good start and we need him to do it again next time.
Tolbert earned the stoppage by throwing two innings allowing three hits, an unearned run and two walks while striking out two batters.
Parker and Bell led the way with two hits apiece. The duo also had two RBIs each. Woodcock finished with two walks.
SECOND GAME
The Wildcats took the lead again in the second game of the day, taking a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Perry drew a walk and eventually came to score on a pitch by Preston Soper (Madison; Germantown).
Meridian took its first lead of the afternoon shortly after on a three-run homer on the opposite court, taking a 3-1 advantage. MCC then added an insurance run in the third inning to extend their lead to 4-1.
The PRCC cut the deficit to two runs in the fifth inning. Woodcock walked and scored on a Bell single to make it 4-2.
Meridian had four runs in his fifth-inning half to take an 8-2 lead over the Wildcats.
Pearl River didn’t sink quietly in the seventh inning, scoring three runs. Donaldson started the inning by blasting the pitch 2-2 over the left field wall to make it 8-3. A few batters later, Parker took the first pitch from his batting deep for a two-run shot. His 14th outburst of the year put him back at the top of the NJCAA standings and made it 8-5. The night’s final was nearly out of the stadium but was caught near the warning lane to end the game 8-5.
Leif Moore (Biloxi; St. Martin) pitched two innings, allowing two hits, two walks and four runs. Ryan Burt (Columbus; New Hope) also pitched two innings and allowed one hit and one walk while striking out one. harpist jordan (Hattiesburg; Presbyterian Christian) pitched an inning and struck out a batter. Bobby Magee (Petal), Byrion Robinson (Brookhaven), Mason Smith (Laurel; Northeast Jones) and Jordan Belsome (Poplarville) also appeared in the game.
Bell led the way offensively with two hits and an RBI. Parker finished with a hit and two RBIs.
NEXT
The Wildcats hit the road Saturday for a game against Mississippi Delta. The games are scheduled to start at 2 p.m. and will be broadcast live on MDCCtrojans.com. The game can also be heard at WRJWRadio.com.
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