Gulf Coast blasts Illinois Central

PERKINSTON — Mississippi Gulf Coast got it first sweep of the season Saturday, beating Illinois Central 9-1 in the opener at Ken "Curly" Farris Field and 14-2 in five innings in the second.

"Hopefully that gets us back on track. It's good to be out here, good to be playing. I'm proud of them. I thought we played well. I thought we pitched really well."

Dawson Hall (Fr., East Central/Hurley) threw a complete-game four-hitter in the opener, striking out 10 and walking just one. Kole Kittrell (So., Greene County/State Line) struck out four in four innings of work, and Jacob Roberts (So., Gulfport/Gulfport) finished things off in Game 2. Their efficiency forced the rest of the staff into the bullpen following the doubleheader to get some work in.

Matt Inlow (So., Pascagoula/Pascagoula) had two hits and drove in two runs in the opener, and Brandon Parker had two RBI. The Bulldogs benefited from two walks and six hit-by-pitches by the Illinois Central (0-4) staff.

Dee Hawthorne (Fr., Harrison Central/Gulfport) went 3-for-3 in the second game, driving in three with a bases-clearing double in the first and another in the third. Nick Sims (Fr., New Hope/New Hope) had two hits and two RBI, and Ike Williams (So., St. Martin/St. Martin) also had two safeties with a double.

Parker and Castor Lee (So., Gulfport/Gulfport) delivered fourth-inning home runs.

"We got a couple of big hits in Game 1, then really swung the bats well in Game 2," Batts said. "Getting a sweep is big. We'd won the first game of a doubleheader a couple times but weren't able to finish it off. That was big."

The Bulldogs (4-4) hope to play Coastal Alabama-South on Monday. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.

"We need to get some consistent play," Batts said. "We need this weather to get out of here and have things clear up for us."

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