RIDGELAND — With their backs against the wall, Neshoba Central’s Kameron Ferguson wanted the ball.

And he backed it up.

Behind Ferguson’s performance on the mound and some timely hitting, the Rockets shut out Ridgeland 5-0 at Titan Park in a crucial Region 4-5A matchup Friday night.

“He showed once again the bulldog in him. He was phenomenal tonight,” Neshoba Central coach Justin Stovall said. “He told me, ‘I want the ball,’ and he located his pitches well and kept them off balanced all night.”

Ferguson (5-0) tossed a complete game two-hitter, walked five and struck out seven to remain perfect on the mound the season and to keep the Rockets’ chances of winning the division.

“I was actually taking notes on Tuesday night and saw they weren’t hitting outside, so I wanted to pound the outside part of the plate,” Ferguson said. “I just threw strikes, and my curveball was very effective. They couldn’t get around on it tonight.”

Cole Irvin gave the Rockets a 1-0 lead with a RBI double to left in the top of the first inning. Cody Singleton would score the second run on a safety squeeze bunt in the second inning. Beck Williams would cap the scoring in the top of the seventh with a bases-clearing double to right to give Neshoba a 5-0 lead. Williams had two hits to lead the Rockets offensively.

“At this time of the year, timely hitting is huge, and we got ours tonight,” Stovall said. “This is a big win. I told the guys we needed to even the series up on the road, and we did.”

The decisive third game between the Rockets (11-4, 4-1 Region 4-5A) and Titans (7-7, 5-1) will be April 11 with the district title on the line.

Ryan Ishee (1-4) had 10 strikeouts but took the loss on the mound for Ridgeland.

“We had our chances in the sixth with bases loaded and guys we need up at the plate, and didn’t get job done,” Ridgeland coach Chris Peden said. “Their guy was a bulldog tonight on the mound and did a great job. Game 3 is at their place, and we will be ready.”