A strong pitching performance from Tanner Busby propelled the Picayune Maroon Tide to a 7-0 home win over the Hancock Hawks on Friday in a key Region 4-6A baseball game.
The victory gave the Maroon Tide the series win heading into Game 3 on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Kiln. Picayune won the opener of the three-game series 9-5 on Tuesday.
Busby allowed just three hits and fanned 11 in going the distance on the mound.
Picayune coach Evan Nichelson said Busby was really on his game.
“Tanner was good tonight,” said Nichelson. “He had command of all his pitches. When he is like that, we have a shot every night.”
The Maroon Tide took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Landon Franklin scored on an error, but Picayune broke the game open in the fifth with a five-run inning.
Franklin, Justin Stockstill and, Parker Helton each singled to load the bases. Kyler King drew a walk to force in a run and Jamie Lumpkin followed with a two-run double to make it 4-0.
King scored on an error and Lumpkin scored on a groundout to make it 6-0.
Brunson Stockstill scored on a sacrifice fly by Justin Stockstill to cap the scoring in the sixth inning.
Lumpkin and Franklin each had two hits for Picayune (15-7, 9-2) while King and Lumpkin both drove in two runs.
Nichelson said Picayune must stick to the game plan to sweep the series and keep pace with George County as the two teams battle for the top spot in the region. The Rebels blasted Pascagoula 13-0 on Friday to improve to 18-3 overall and 9-2 in the region.
“Pitching and defense has been our strength all year,” said Nichelson. “The plan is to always be solid defensively and make the routine plays. Grind out at-bats and when the dust settles, see where we are at.”
Hancock (10-10, 5-4) got hits from Jeffrey Hopgood, Jaxson Knight, and Hunter Kuhn.
Hancock pitcher Brandon Arcement took the loss, allowing six runs on six hits over five innings.
“Busby pitched well tonight,” said Hancock coach Anthony Dewitt. “He threw all his pitches for strikes and changed speeds.”
Hancock will close out the regular season with a three-game series next week against George County. The Hawks will play in Lucedale on Tuesday and then host the Rebels on Friday before closing out the series in Lucedale on Saturday.
Picayune will end the regular season next week with a three-game series against Long Beach. The Tide will host the Bearcats on Tuesday, travel to Long Beach on Friday for Game 2, and then close out the series at home on Saturday.
