Abby Roberts went 3-for-4 with an RBI and limited host Pisgah to just two runs Thursday to lead Clarkdale to a 6-2 win in Game 1 of a MHSAA Class 2A second-round series. Game 2 of the best-of-3 series is at Clarkdale at 6 p.m. today. Game 3, if necessary, would follow.

    Lindsey Beard added two hits, two RBIs and three stolen bases for the 22-2 Bulldogs, while Kennedy Castleberry, Sarah Harris and Lauren Thrash all added one hit.

— Jamie Wachter

Newton County    9

Purvis    1

    The Cougars began their Class 4A title defense with a road rout Thursday.

    Newton County hosts Game 2 of the best-of-3 series today at 5 p.m. today. Game 3, if necessary, would follow.

— Jamie Wachter

PREP BASEBALL

Taylorsville    2

Union    0

    Both the Yellowjackets and Tartars managed just three hits in the first game of their Class 2A second-round series in Taylorsville on Thursday. Unfortunately for Union, the Tartars managed just a little more out of those hits.

    Zach Mowdy took the hard-luck loss for Union, pitching a complete game.

    Game 2 of the best-of-3 series is at 7 p.m. today in Union.

— Jamie Wachter

Purvis    9

Newton County    4

    The Tornadoes broke open a close game with six runs in the sixth before Newton County mustered three seventh-inning runs in Game 1 of the Class 4A second-round series.

    Purvis’ late outburst handed Will Brand the loss, as the left-hander allowed nine runs — seven earned — on 11 hits and two walks, while striking out two in 5 1-3 innings. Brand falls to 7-4.

    Newton County, which had 10 hits with everybody in the lineup notching at least one, was paced by Reagan Warren’s two hits, including a double. Peyton Cain, Jordan Walker and Brand all added singles and RBIs.

    The Cougars, who fell to 21-10, host Game 2 of the best-of-3 series at 6 p.m. today.

— Jamie Wachter

LATE JUCO BASEBALL

East Mississippi    15-11

Coahoma    1-5

    SCOOBA — Scoring 26 runs on 25 hits on the day, including five home runs, the Lionsclosed out their regular-season home baseball slate by sweeping visiting Coahoma Community College, 15-1 and 11-5, in MACJC North Division action late Wednesday afternoon at EMCC’s Gerald Poole Field. 

    The EMCC Lions, now 9-12 in division play, are bidding to claim the fourth and final division spot in advance of next week’s best-of-three MACJC State Playoffs. EMCC closes out the regular season with a must-win Saturday doubleheader at Mississippi Delta Community College that could very well determine the final playoff spot in the MACJC’s North Division. After getting swept at Northwest Mississippi on Wednesday, the MDCC Trojans bring an 11-11 division record into Saturday’s crucial twinbill. First pitch between EMCC and Delta is set for 1 p.m. in Moorhead. The Holmes Bulldogs, sitting at 10-12 within the division, play host to Northwest Mississippi Saturday in Goodman.

    In Wednesday’s opener against Coahoma, the Lions launched four home runs, two by sophomore outfielder Leroy Wilson, to claim the 15-1 run-rule decision after four innings.  With all five of his hits coming of the extra-base variety, Wilson went 5-for-7 on the afternoon with 15 total bases, five runs batted in and five runs scored, including his team-leading sixth and seventh home runs of the season.

    Following a six-run third inning, EMCC scored five more times in the fourth on a two-run homer by Jason Yarbor and a three-run clout by Austin Braddock for his first collegiate round-tripper.

    With 15 runs on 13 hits in the opener, the Lions had four players with multiple-hit outings. 

    On the mound, EMCC’s Corbin Johnson went the distance to even his record at 2-2 on the year. The freshman right-hander allowed just three hits and an unearned run while striking out a pair and walking just one in his five-inning, complete-game victory.

    The Lions also got off to a fast start in the nightcap by reaching Coahoma starting pitcher Brandon Gregory for four straight hits and two runs in the bottom of the first.  However, the visiting Tigers responded with an unearned run in the second and a two-out grand slam by Joe Johnson off EMCC starter Dillon Hawkins the next frame to take a 5-2 lead after three innings.

    With a dozen more hits, eight Lion batters hit safely in the nightcap. Wilson’s 3-for-3 effort, on a pair of doubles and a triple, led the way. Braddock and Tyler Bonaventure each had two hits in game two and knocked in five runs between them.

    On the hill, Hawkins regrouped after Coahoma’s four-run third by facing the minimum nine total batters in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings combined before giving way to Blake Roberts in the seventh.  Hawkins picked up his first collegiate victory in three decisions by giving up the five runs on six hits.  He also had three strikeouts and two walks during his six innings of work.

— from school reports

East Central    10-6

Pearl River    7-15

    After rallying in the opener, East Central Community College’s baseball squad was unable to maintain an early 5-0 lead and fell in the nightcap of a doubleheader with Pearl River Community College on Wednesday at the Clark/Gay Baseball Complex in Decatur.

    The Warriors will take a 25-18 overall record and a 12-10 mark in the MACJC South Division to the regular-season finale at Copiah-Lincoln Community College scheduled Saturday. Doubleheader action begins at 2 p.m. on the Wesson campus.

    East Central is currently third in the tight division race, led by Jones County at 14-7.  Hinds is 13-8 followed by Gulf Coast (13-11), Pearl River (10-12), Southwest (9-13) and Co-Lin (6-16). The top four teams in the MACJC South and North divisions qualify for the state playoffs.

    In the opener with Pearl River, EC grabbed an early 3-0 lead then fell behind 6-3 in the fourth inning before responding with three runs in the bottom of the frame to tie the contest.

    The Wildcats reclaimed the lead at 7-6 in the fifth inning but the Warriors reclaimed the lead for good in the sixth inning thanks to a solo blast by David McAdory, a two-run single from Fred Hampton and an RBI single by Tim Anderson.

     Anderson also contributed a double and led the team with three RBIs. Hampton also hit a single.

    Terrence Steele of Neshoba Central led EC sluggers with three singles. He was also credited with two RBIs.

    Other hitters were Xavier Franklin of Newton County, two singles; and Kyle Henson of Starkville Academy and Kalik May of Tuscaloosa County (Ala.) High School, singles each. Henson also knocked in a run.

     Right-hander Fernando Gonzalez of Puerto Rico went the distance in picking up the win. He allowed one earned run on six hits and fanned eight batters. He also walked four batters.

     In the nightcap, EC jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning, thanks to two-run doubles by Hampton and Rubert Alcantara of the Dominican Republic and an RBI double by Franklin.

     The Wildcats responded with four runs in the second inning and used a seven-run seventh inning to seal the victory.

     Alcantara led EC’s offense with two doubles and two singles and finished with a pair of RBIs. Hampton added a single to his double and also finished with two RBIs as did Franklin.

     Other hitters were Henson, May and McAdory, singles each.

     Right-hander Jordan Mixon of East Webster took the loss in relief, allowing two earned runs on four hits through two innings. He also fanned a batter. Starter Severina Signa of Deer Creek went 3 2/3 innings and allowed six earned runs on six hits. The right-hander fanned three batters and walked four. Right-handers Brock Ward of Louisville and Marc Cruso of Harrison Central  and southpaw Coy Sorenson of Kosciusko made brief appearances on the mound.

— from school reports