POPLARVILLE, Miss. — Pearl River Baseball No. 2 Turner Switchak (Hattiesburg; Oak Grove) had a complete shutout in a 10-0 win over Hinds in the opener of the day. The Wildcats missed a comeback in Game 2, losing 5-4.
“We didn’t play well the first three sets of Game 2,” said head coach Michael Avalon. “You look at the scoreboard and we were beaten in all areas in Game 2. It’s frustrating. We beat their best arm in game one and got them where they wanted them in game two, but thanks to them because they did what they had to do to win.
FIRST GAME
Swistak got the start in Game 1 and put on one of his best performances of the year. The right-hander ran into trouble at the top of the first frame, but managed to pull through and was on cruise control the rest of the evening.
The Wildcats (26-8 overall; 14-4 MACCC) got on the scoreboard quickly, taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning. John Griffin Bell (Mobile, Alabama; Faith Academy) threw a fly ball down the right side for an infield single. He then stole second base and advanced to third on a knockdown by the catcher. The Hinds pitcher (21-13; 14-6) then hesitated to bring it home.
PRCC added a pair of runs in the second set to take a 3-0 lead. Matt Mercier (Richton; Petal) and Ian Montz(Lafayette, Louisiana; Acadiana) kicked off the inning with back-to-back singles. Mercer swept third base then scored on a Logan Walters Chopper (petal) at shortstop. A few throws later DK Donaldson (Gulfport; West Harrison) reached base on picking a defenseman and Taylor Woodcock (Pass Christian; West Harrison) brought it home quickly with a double deep into the left center gap.
The Wildcats added an insurance run in the fourth inning when a Hinds pitch escaped the catcher and allowed Walters to cross home plate for a 4-0 lead.
The blow for Pearl River came in the fifth inning of the game. Tate Parker (Gulfport; West Harrison) and Alex Perry (McComb; North Pike) drew walks before Mercer was hit with a pitch to charge Montz’s bases. The right fielder took the first two pitches from his at-bat before unloading downfield 1-1 for a moonshot grand slam. The explosion made the score 8-0.
The Wildcats ended the game in the sixth round of the contest. The frame started with a single from Bell and a march from Parker. Perry then lined up an RBI single to right field and Mercer finished the game driving in the 10th inning of the contest with a single between the third baseman and the shortstop.
Swistak pitched six shutout innings, striking out six batters and scattering five hits.
“Turner was really good,” Avalon said. “That’s what we expect of him. It’s obviously not going to be this clean every time, but it was really good.
Mercer went 3-for-3 at home plate with one RBI and two runs scored. Montz went 2 for 3 with four RBIs. Bell and Donaldson completed those with multiple hits, collecting two.
SECOND GAME
Hinds took the lead in the top of the first on a two-run brace and added an insurance run in the second inning to make it 3-0.
The Wildcats cut the deficit to one point late in the second period. After Montz drew a four-pitch promenade, Preston Soper (Madison; Germantown) stepped up to the plate and curled the second pitch of his at-bat to the right field wall to make it 3-2.
Hinds added two more runs in the third inning on a Wildcat error and an RBI single to extend the lead, 5-2.
The Wildcats threatened late in the fifth inning as two runners found themselves on base, but Hinds turned a double play to end the frame.
Pearl River tried to rally late in the seventh inning. A run crossed the plate after Perry failed and another scored after an error, reducing the Wildcat’s deficit to one run. Pearl River put another runner in scoring position but failed to get the last hit he needed, losing 5-4.
Leif More (Biloxi; St. Martin) pitched 1 1/3 innings, allowing four hits, three runs and a walk. Blake Hooks (Petal) recorded two outs and allowed two unearned runs. Ryan Burt (Columbus; New Hope) pitched three shutout innings, scattering three hits. Landen Payne (Ocean Springs; St. Martin) pitched 1 2/3 innings walking one and retiring another. Byrion Robinson (Brookehaven) came in to face a left-handed batter and retired him on three pitches.
Parker and Woodcock were the only Wildcat hitters with multiple hits, totaling two each.
NEXT
Pearl River returns to action Friday with a doubleheader against Itawamba. Games are due to start at 2 p.m.
TICKETS
Match tickets are available now and can be purchased at PRCCAthletics.com/tickets.
TO AGREE
All Pearl River home baseball games are streamed live for free on PRCCMedia.com. Fans who have Roku, Amazon Fire or Apple TV devices can also watch Wildcat shows by downloading the “Pearl River CC” channel from their app stores.
The games can also be heard on WRJW 1320-AM, 106.9 FM and WRJWRadio.com.
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