Wolves rally late to defeat Southwest in Wesson

WESSON, Miss. - On a chilly night at Sullivan Field, the Wolves of Copiah-Lincoln Community College rallied from a 4-0 deficit with six runs over the last three innings to take down Southwest Mississippi Community College, 9-5, in game one of the 2020 Coca-Cola Challenge. The win is a strong bounceback from two losses over the weekend. Peyton Parker led the Wolves as he drove in two runs on three hits and earned the save as he moved from third to the mound in the eighth inning to record the final six outs.

The Bears were the first to hit the scoreboard in the bottom of the second as the team capitalized on a passed ball and were aggressive by stealing home. The gutsy play put Southwest up 2-0. A pair of RBI singles grew that lead to 4-0 in the top of the third, but Co-Lin responded in the bottom of the frame with an RBI single from Justin Johnson. Peyton Parker, who was hit by a pitch, scored later in the inning on an error to cut the lead to just two. 

A sacrifice fly from Joshua Day in the fourth cut the lead to one, before Trey Frierson got one in on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the sixth. A solo Southwest homer from Mason Barker put the Bears back on top in the top of the seventh 5-4, but Co-Lin's bats exploded down the stretch. 

Back-to-back singles from Parker and Marquez Hudson put runners aboard in the bottom of the seventh before Johnson ripped an RBI double to right to score one. Landry McQueen followed suit stroked another RBI single to right field plating Hudson and Johnson. The bottom of the eight was much of the same as Frierson and Brooks Italiano led off with a pair of singles. Parker capitalized on the situation and smoked a single on the ground to left field scoring the sophomore duo and growing the lead to 9-5. A score that would hold. 

Konner Allen got the start for Co-Lin. The sophomore threw two and two third innings and surrendered four hits, four runs, one of which was earned, and struck out five Bears. Weston Acy earned the victory on the mound for the Wolves as he went four and a third innings, allowing one run on four hits, striking out seven and walking one. Parker moved over from third base to the bump in the eighth inning and threw two innings in relief. He recorded the last six outs to earn the save after leading the Wolves at the plate with three hits and a pair of RBIs. 

Johnson and Italiano also racked up multiple hits for Co-Lin while McQueen, Johnson, and Parker all posted two RBIs. 

Three Bears finished with multiple hits.

Scoring Recap

Top 2nd | Phillips scores on passed ball, Southwest 1, Co-Lin 0

Top 2nd | Porter steals home, Southwest 2, Co-Lin 0

Top 3rd | McKigney drives in run with RBI single, Southwest 3, Co-Lin 0

Top 3rd | Porter hits RBI single to right, Southwest 4, Co-Lin 0

Bottom 3rd | Justin Johnson hits infield RBI single, Southwest 4, Co-Lin 1

Bottom 3rd | Peyton Parker scores on Southwest error, Southwest 4, Co-Lin 2

Bottom 4th | Joshua Day scores one with sac fly to right, Southwest 4, Co-Lin 3

Bottom 6th | Trey Frierson grounds into fielder's choice, scores Lowery, Southwest 4, Co-Lin 4

Top 7th | Barker hits solo homer to center field, Southwest 5, Co-Lin 4

Bottom 7th | Justin Johnson hits RBI double to right field, Southwest 5, Co-Lin 5

Bottom 7th | Landry McQueen hits RBI single to right field that plates two, Southwest 5, Co-Lin 7

Bottom 8th | Peyton Parker single to left field and scores two, Southwest 5, Co-Lin 9

Up Next

Co-Lin takes on Baton Rouge Community College in a double header on Saturday, February 29 at Sullivian Field on Co-Lin's Wesson campus.