ELLISVILLE, Miss. — Powered by a relentless offense, the No. 3 Pearl River Wildcats completed a sweep of No. 13 Jones College Wednesday night, winning 16-8 in game one and 9-2 in game two. The win earned the Wildcats at least a share of the MACCC Championship with a chance to win the crown outright on Saturday against Northwest, needing just one win in the doubleheader.
“This is a special group and I’ve said that all year,” head coach Michael Avalon said. “This is a tough place to play and it’s the ‘Cat Fight’ as they call it. That’s a good club over there and they’re at their place. Coming here and taking care of business for 16 innings — a lot of credit to our guys for battling.”
GAME ONE
The Wildcats started the day strong. Bryce Fowler (Madison; Germantown) opened the game with a single into left field. Shortly after, Hollis Porter (Hurley; East Central) struck a double to the wall in center field, scoring Fowler. Caston Thompson (Jayess; Brookhaven Academy) then looped one over the infield, bringing home Porter. Pearl River (45-7 Overall; 24-2 MACCC) led 2-0 over Jones College (35-13; 17-9) after one complete inning.
The Wildcats began the second inning quickly as Jonah Katsaboulas (Brandon) took the first pitch into the opposite field for a quick single. Parker Ryan (Madison; Jackson Academy) then reached on a fielder’s choice, erasing Katsaboulas. On a hit-and-run play, Ryan was driven in by Creek Robertson (Oxford; Madison Central), who gapped a baseball into right-center field. The starting pitcher, Thomas Crabtree (Collierville, Tenn.), induced a three-up and three-down in the bottom half to end the second inning, with the Wildcats leading 3-0.
After a few quiet innings, the bottom of the fourth led to chaos, with Jones College scoring five runs with four straight hits in the mix. An infield single led to two of the runs being scored. After four innings, Jones College led 5-3.
Despite the deficit, the Wildcats relentlessly answered back in the top of the fifth. With the first three batters reaching, the bases were loaded as Jeff Ince (Brandon; Jackson Prep) sliced one through the infield for an RBI single. Another RBI single from Marshall Phillips (Hattiesburg; Sumrall) moved everyone 90 feet with a single. Thompson doubled, scoring Ince and putting Phillips on third. Alex Wade (Decatur, Ala.; Madison Academy) then singled, scoring Phillips and advancing Thompson. Before the inning ended, Katsaboulas singled to score Thompson. The top of the fifth closed with six runs, scoring on four hits and two walks. The Wildcats led 9-5.
Capitalizing on a few mistakes, PRCC added two runs in the top of the seventh. Porter was responsible for two RBIs that gave the Wildcats a ten-run lead. AJ Hansen (Mobile, Ala.; McGill-Toolen) came into the game with two runners on and no one out in the bottom of the seventh. He got out of trouble as only one run crossed the plate.
Porter added another RBI after he tripled in the ninth, 16-6 Wildcats. Jones College scored twice in the ninth but could not account for the large deficit. The game went final at 16-8.
Porter and Phillips both picked up four RBIs in the contest. Porter was 3-for-6, while Phillips batted 2-for-5. Porter collected a double and a triple, scoring once. Phillips scored twice. Thompson was the only other Wildcat with three hits. He had a double, two RBIs, and two runs scored.
“Hollis is pitched against tougher than anyone in this conference,” Avalon said. “He battles, and what he does is really impressive.”
Crabtree tossed six innings, adding six strikeouts. Despite giving up five earned runs on seven hits, Crabtree had a better day than the stat line indicated, earning the win. Hansen picked up the save by throwing the final three innings, allowing two runs on three hits. He struck out two.
GAME TWO
The second batter of the first inning, Ince, singled toward third base to open the second game of the day. Phillips returned the favor, singling home Ince. In the bottom of the first, JP Robertson (Madison; Germantown) struck out his first assignment of the evening, putting up a scoreless frame, 1-0 Wildcats.
PRCC added to its early lead in the bottom of the third. Fowler singled before Ince doubled. Porter then grounded out to bring Fowler in. Jones took advantage of an opening walk in the third, getting a run back on an RBI single. After three, the score sat 2-1, Pearl River.
Thompson began the fourth inning with a four-pitch walk. Katsaboulas also walked, and with two outs and runners on second and third, Creek Robertson slapped a ball into right field just off the foul line. The single scored both runners and gave the Wildcats room at 4-1. JP Robertson surrendered three free bases in the bottom half but picked up two strikeouts and escaped clean.
Jones College got one run back on a solo homer in the bottom of the sixth, 4-2.
The Wildcats added much-needed insurance runs in the top of the seventh. The bases were loaded before Porter and Phillips hit back-to-back singles, advancing everyone a single base, 6-2. Wade then unloaded the bases with a double into the outfield. The Wildcats expanded their lead to a much larger 9-2.
Conner Ware (Madison; Germantown) was sent back out in the seventh to secure the win. He recorded a strikeout and, after a double, induced back-to-back flyouts, ending the game at 9-2.
Fowler led the Wildcats with three hits, going 3-for-4 with two doubles. He scored twice. Ince was 2-for-3 with a double. He also scored twice. Wade went 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs.
JP Robertson threw 4 1/3 innings, earning the win. He did not allow an earned run while scattering three hits. He picked up six punchouts. Tommasini followed, tossing an inning and allowing one run on a solo homer. Ware pitched the remaining 1 2/3 innings, giving up one hit while striking out two Bobcats.
NEXT UP
The Wildcats are back home against Northwest on Saturday for the final MACCC doubleheader matchup of the season. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
TICKETS
Tickets are on sale now at PRCCAthletics.com/Tickets. General admission tickets are $8 per game.
HOW TO WATCH
The Wildcats livestream all games for free at PRCCMedia.com/gold. Fans who have Roku, Amazon Fire or Apple TV devices can also watch the Wildcat broadcasts by downloading the “Pearl River CC” channel from their app stores.
Games can also be heard at WRJW 1320-AM, 106.9 FM and WRJWRadio.com.
For the latest on Pearl River Community College athletics, follow us on X (@PRCCAthletics) and Facebook (PRCCAthletics).
PRESS RELEASE WRITTEN BY PRCC ATHLETICS INTERN JAXON DUNAWAY.
