MGCCC baseball splits with Pearl River

Dustin Fore tags out Pearl River’s Tristan Rogers Mar. 29 in Poplarville.

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College had a chance for a sweep over archrival Pearl River Sunday, but the Bulldogs blew a six-run lead in game two and lost to make it a 7-3, 11-7 split in the MACJC South Division doubleheader played in Poplarville.

Gulf Coast (20-8, 7-3) won game one 7-3 behind the strong pitching of Clint Dempster, who struck out eight in six innings of work. Jerron Casey had three hits including two doubles, while Kenneth Atwood and Matt Bennett each had two hits.

In the nightcap, Pearl River (15-13, 3-7) fell behind 6-0 but came back to win 11-7 behind Derek Tortorich's grand slam homerun in the bottom of the seventh with the score tied 7-7. Bulldog reliver Skylor Burts suffered his first blown save of the season. Bryant WIlson and Jan Butler each had tow hits for Gulf Coast in game two.

The Bulldogs host Southwest in another MACJC South Division doubleheader Wednesday beginning at 4 p.m.

(Boxscore Courtesy of Mitch Deaver/PRCC)
MISS. GULF COAST @ PEARL RIVER
MACJC South Division Baseball Doubleheader
Played Sunday, March 29, 2009 @ Poplarville, MS

GAME 1
Miss. Gulf Coast  (20-7, 7-2)    400     300     0 —   7     9     1
Pearl River         (14-13, 2-7)  012     000     0 —   3     4     1

WP: Clint Dempster (NA), starter, 6 innings, 8 K, 3 BB.
Others: Craig Mackey (7), 1 K, 1 HB.
C: Jarrod Cannette.

LP: Josh Jones (2-2), starter, 3 1/3 innings, 4 K, 2 BB.
Others: Brett Blaise (4), 1 BB; Kye Wilson (4), 5 K, 1 BB.
C: Alex Riser.

MISS. GULF COAST Hitters: Jerron Casey 2-2B, 1B (1 RBI); Kenneth Atwood 2-1B (2 RBI), Matt Bennett 2B, Dustin Fore 1B (2 RBI), Corey Groue 1B, Jeremy Hill 1B (1 RBI), Will White 1B.

PEARL RIVER Hitters: Ethan Burt HR (1 RBI), Ashley Graeter HR (1 RBI), Matt Discon 2B, Zach Farrar 2B.

GAME 2
Miss. Gulf Coast   (20-8, 7-3)    024     010     0 —    7     7     1
Pearl River          (15-13, 3-7)  002     102     5 —  11     9     2

WP: Kody Lancaster (3-2), relieved in 5th, 1 K.
Others: Patrick Daugherty, starter, 2 1/3 innings, 1 K, 4 BB; Chase Ezelle (3), 1 2/3 innings, 4 K; Jared Ashford (5), faced 2 batters.
C: Derek Tortorich.

LP: Skylor Burts (NA), relieved in 7th.
Others: Kenneth Atwood, starter, 3 innings; Louis Briley (4), Michael Baxter (6).
C: Patrick Kirkland.

MISS. GULF COAST Hitters: Bryant Wilson 2B, 1B; Jan Butler 2-1B, Matt Bennett 1B, Skylor Burts 1B, Jeremy Hill 1B.

PEARL RIVER Hitters: Derek Tortorich grand slam HR, 1B (4 RBI); Jake Hawkins 2B, 1B; Zach Farrar 2-1B (2 RBI), Ethan Burt 2B, Matt Discon 2B (1 RBI), Ashley Graeter 2B.