Diamond Wolves rally in game two to earn split with Gulf Coast

PERKINSTON– The Co-Lin Wolves took advantage of a couple of Mississippi Gulf Coast miscues to win game two of a doubleheader 6-5. The Bulldogs would hold off Co-Lin's late rally to take the opener 9-7.  

GAME 1

The Wolves scored a run in the first inning as Peyton Parker (West Monroe, LA/West Ouachita High School) homered to right field. Gulf Coast would answer in the bottom half of the inning. Alex McWhorter's RBI single would tie the game.

After three scoreless innings, the Bulldogs scored six runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 7-1 lead. The Wolves sent three pitchers to the mound in the inning.

Co-Lin would answer with three runs in the top of the sixth. Tom Biggs (Columbia, LA/West Monroe High School) singled to right. Parker would follow with a single to center. Marquez Hudson (Monticello/Lawrence County High School) followed with a three-run home run to cut the Bulldog lead to 7-4.

Gulf Coast added single runs in the bottom of the sixth and the bottom of the eighth to take a 9-4 lead.

But the Wolves tried to rally in the top of the ninth as Kenner Bizot (Wesson/Wesson Attendance Center) led off with a single. Cade Lowery (Wesson/Wesson Attendance Center) was hit by a pitch. With two outs, Will-Lawson Harkins (Carthage/Leake Academy) drew a walk to load the bases. With two strikes, Tom Biggs singled to right field to close the Bulldog lead to 9-5. Parker was hit by a pitch which scored Lowery. Hudson reached on an error by the shortstop to cut the lead to 9-7. Gulf Coast reliever Alex McWhorter got Hunter Richardson to strike out to end the game.

Dawson Flowers got the win for Gulf Coast pitching seven innings, allowing four runs on eight hits, striking out six and walking two. Matthew De Lano allowed three runs (two earned) on two hits, struck out four and walked one in 1.2 innings of work.

Braxton Henley (Hattiesburg/Presbyterian Christian) suffered the loss for the Wolves allowing two runs on one hit and walking one. Lane Hanna (Union/Union High School) followed Henley. He allowed four runs on two hits and struck out one. Micah Parker (Kosciusko/Kosciusko High School) allowed one hit. Aiden Singley worked three innings, allowed two runs on seven hits and struck out one. Starter Tanner Watts (Brookhaven/Brookhaven Academy) gave up one run, scattered six hits, struck out seven and walked three in four innings of work.  

At the plate for Co-Lin, Biggs, Peyton Parker and Bizot had multiple hits. Adding support with a hit apiece were Harkins, Lowery and Reed Barlow (Florence/Florence High School).

Gulf Coast pounded out 17 hits. Tucker Thomas, Josh Cary, Brendan McCauley, McWhorter, Drake Henderson and Ethan Coleman had multiple hits. Dawson Walters and Jared Tribett both had a hit.

GAME 2

The Bulldogs struck first as Cary scored on an error in the first inning.

Co-Lin tied the game at 1-all in the top of the third. Harkins doubled and scored on Biggs' single. In the bottom of the inning, Gulf Coast picked up two runs to take a 3-1 lead.

The Wolves would take the lead in the top of the seventh. Bizot led off the inning with a single to left. Noah Freeman (Mendenhall/Simpson Academy) was hit by a pitch. With two outs, Ben White (Natchez/Cathedral High School) singled to load the bases. Harkins reached on an error by the second baseman allowing Bizot to score. Biggs doubled to center field to ­clear the bases and put the Wolves up 5-3. Parker reached on an error by the center fielder that scored Biggs as Co-Lin increased their lead to 6-5.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Bulldogs would try to rally as Luke Welborn hit a two-run home run to cut the Co-Lin lead to 6-5. Co-Lin's Parker was able to get McWhorter to ground out. Thomas would single but was caught stealing for the third out.

Peyton Parker earned the victory for Co-Lin. He allowed five runs (four earned) on 13 hits, struck out six and walked none throwing a complete game.

Hayden Robb suffered the loss for Gulf Coast. He thew seven innings, allowing six runs (one earned) on eight hits, striking out six and walking one.

Leading Co-Lin at the plate was Biggs with a double and a single and four RBIs. White added a pair of singles. Peyton Parker and Harkins had a double apiece. Adding support were Hudson and Bizot with a single apiece.  

At the plate for Gulf Coast, Thomas collected three hits. Henderson and Ethan Coleman had a pair of hits.

NEXT UP: Co-Lin travels to Coahoma for a doubleheader with the Tigers on Saturday, Feb. 27, beginning at 12 p.m.