Friday, May 2, 2008
Wildcats smash Tigers
10-2 in seven innings in MACJC opener
Lindsey strikes out nine in taking five-hit, 10-run rule victory

     FULTON — Pearl River Community College demolished Northeast Mississippi 10-2 in seven innings to open the 2008 MACJC State Tournament underway here at Itawamba CC.
      PRCC, the MACJC South Division champions, cracked 13 hits, including four home runs, en route to the victory to improve to 34-17. The Tigers, who managed only five hits off Wildcat hurler Kyle Lindsey, dropped to 31-17.
      The victory insured the Wildcats’ hosting of the upcoming Region 23 Tournament set for May 14-17.
      “We played well and Kyle pitched a tremendous game,” said third-year head coach Jamie McMahon. “And we managed go get 13 hits of a very good pitcher (Northeast’s Chase Porch). I couldn’t be more pleased with our effort.”
      Pearl River went up 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning off a two-run homer by Seth Edwards, then padded its lead with another two-run shot in the third by Nick Smith.
      Northeast loaded the bases with one out in the top of the fifth off a walk, a single, and an error, but couldn’t push a run home; while PRCC added two more runs in the bottom of the frame off a two-RBI double by Dustin Langley and a sacrifice by Ethan Burt to make it 6-0.
      The Tigers answered with their only two runs in the top of the sixth of three base hits.
      The Wildcats iced the victory in the bottom of the seventh off Burt’s three-run homer, while Edwards’ solo shot ended the game via the eight-run rule.
      Lindsey (10-1) got the win, giving up a meager five hits, while striking out nine, walking one, and hitting one batter; while Porch struck out seven and walked none.
      M.J. McWhorter paced the Tigers at the plate with a double and a single, while Jason Chism, Drew Dillard, and Davis Ellison (two RBIs) all had base hits.
      Edwards led PRCC’s 13-hit attack with two home runs and two singles (three RBIs), while Burt homered and had two base hits (four RBIs). Smith homered and singled (two RBIs), Langley doubled and singled (one RBI), and Alex Riser had two singles.
      The Wildcats will now play the winner of the Itawamba-Hinds match-up — Thursday’s nightcap game (results unavailable) — at 7 p.m. Friday, while the Tigers face the winner of Thursday’s 4 p.m. match up between Meridian and Mississippi Gulf Coast (results unavailable).