Press
Releases
From
the
Pearl
River Community College
Department
of Public Relations
|
|
.
Press Release
from the Office of Public Relations
PEARL
RIVER COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Sunday, May 1, 2005
Meridian KO's Pearl River
MACJC 'repeat'
Late Eagle scoring surge
can defending champ Wildcats 7-1 in MACJC title bout
SENATOBIA — A late Meridian scoring rally KO'ed Pearl River's hopes of
a state championship repeat, as the Eagles handed the second-ranked Wildcats
a 7-1 thrashing in the MACJC title bout here Sunday at Northwest Mississippi
CC's Ranger Field.
MCC (39-10) smashed three home run in each of the final three innings and
held hard-hitting PRCC (43-10) to a meager five hits over the nine-frame
distance to claim the 2005 state title.
Things were scoreless for the first six innings, but LSU-transfer Kody
Bumpus smacked his first of two home runs with a towering solo shot out
of right centerfield to put the Eagles up 1-0 in the seventh. Michael Murray
added another solo shot in the eighth before Meridian pounded the Wildcats
with five runs in the fifth to make it 7-0. PRCC scored its only run in
the bottom of the final frame off a one-out double by Ryne Lovdahl and
an RBI-single by John Wayne Donahue.
Eagle starter Matthew Rozier, who saw his first action in some two weeks
while recovering from a severely bruised foot, allowed only two hits in
the first eight innings. Donahue doubled to lead off the bottom of the
fifth, while Rene Ritchie had a one-out double in the sixth.
"(Matthew) Rozier did a tremendous job keeping us off balance the entire
game,"said fourth-year PRCC head coach Jay Artigues. "We just couldn't
seem to break through at the plate and could put any pressure on them."
Wildcat starter P.J. Treadaway opened the game by walking lead off batter
Brian Frichter, then belted Tommy Lott with a pitch. The Eagle duo moved
to second and third off Murray's sacrifice bunt before Treadaway struck
out Joey Lieberman and Bumpus flew out.
Pearl River got its first baserunner when Donahue cracked his double for
the Wildcats first hit in the fifth, while Ole Miss signee Craig Rodriguez
who relieved Treadaway in the third struck out two straight with Frichter
at third to get out of the inning.
After Ritchie's one-out double in the sixth, Richard Imhoff reached via
fielder's choice; while Ritchie remained on second. Ritchie avoided Eagle
shortstop Murray's tag while attempted to steal third, but was ruled out
because he ran out of the baseline.
Bumpus' solo shot led off the seventh, then Nick Hardy doubled two outs
later and moved to third on a passed ball before Wes Council popped out.
In the bottom of the frame Donahue was hit by a pitch with one out, then
J.P. Moreaux outran an infield grounder for a single an out later. Jordan
Rogers grounded out to end the inning.
Murray's homer made it 2-0 in the eighth, while PRCC went three-up, three-down
in the bottom of the inning.
In the top of the ninth, Bumpus' second homer pushed MCC's lead to 3-0.
An out and throwing error later had Toddric Johnson at first and Rodriguez
exited the mound for sidewinder Jacob Smith, who immediately walked Hardy
— the only batter he would face. Enter lefthander Kyle Edwardss who gave
up an RBI-double to Council and was relieved by Imhoff. A passed ball resulted
in another Meridian run before Frichter singled in Hardy from third. Lott
then reached on an error then Frichter scored on a fielder's choice to
end the Eagles' scoring.
Lovdahl's double set the stage for Donahue's RBI single for Pearl River's
only run.
"Despite the loss, I can't say enough about our guys effort," said Artigues.
Craig (Rodriguez) pitched great...we just didn't give him much help on
the offensive side. He competed to the very end.
"Hopefully,
this will get us ready for the regionals that start Friday at our place."
Meridian finished the game with seven hits and one error, while PRCC committed
two defensive miscues.
Rodriguez picked up the loss, striking out five in his 6 1/3 innings on
the mound. Treadaway had two Ks and two walks, while Imhoff struck out
the final Eagle batter of the game.
The Wildcats
joined the Eagles in the loser's bracket when Meridian took a 4-2, 10-inning
victory on Saturday; while MCC opened the tournament with a 15-4 loss to
Itawamba on Thursday.
PRCC defeated Northwest and Itawamba on Saturday to cop its berth in Sunday's
championship game.
Pearl River hosts the four-team Region 23 Division II Tournament Friday
through Sunday in Wildcat Stadium. In first-round action on Friday, Hinds
will take on Copiah-Lincoln at 2:30; while Pearl River tackles LSU-Eunice
at 5:30 p.m.
"Our season is far from over," Artigues concluded. "We still got a solid
shot at winning the regionals, the Super Regionals, and a berth in the
World Series that's less than a month away."
|