Co-Lin earns split with No. 16 East Central

WESSON– East Central pitchers Gage Tufnell and Roper Ball combined for a two-hit shutout to lead the No. 16 ranked East Central Warriors to a 12-0 win in five innings over the Co-Lin Wolves 12-0. The Wolves bounced back to take game two 6-2 powered by Kenner Bizot's inside-the-park three-run home run.

GAME 1

East Central starter Tufnell threw three innings, allowed two hits, struck out two and walked three. Ball relieved Tufnell in the fourth. He struck out two and walked two.

The Warriors scored two runs in the second and one run in the third inning to take a 3-0 lead. In the top of the fourth inning, East Central plated nine runs that included six singles two 2-run home runs by Kade Turnage and Trey Lewis. The inning also saw four Co-Lin pitching changes.

Starting pitcher Tanner Watts (Brookhaven/Brookhaven Academy) took the loss for the Wolves. He allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits, struck out three and walked one in three innings of work. Four other Wolves saw action on the mound including Braxton Henley (Hattiesburg/Presbyterian Christian) who gave up three earned runs on three hits; Aiden Singley (Columbia/Columbia High School) two runs and two hits; Lane Hanna (Union/Union High School) two runs, one hit and one walk; and Rhett Blackburn (Hattiesburg/Oak Grove High School) one run, one hit and one strikeout in 1.1 innings.

At the plate for Co-Lin, Peyton Parker (West Monroe, LA/West Ouachita High School) and Kenner Bizot (Wesson/Wesson High School) were the only two Wolves to get a hit.

GAME 2

Co-Lin would take the early lead in the bottom of the second inning. Braydon Muse (Florence/Florence High School) would draw a walk. Ben White (Natchez/Cathedral High School) singled to center. Bizot hit a deep shot into the left field corner and would make it around for an inside-the-park three-run home run to give the Wolves a 3-0 lead.

In the top of the third, the Warriors plated their first run courtesy of a Co-Lin error and a passed ball. The Wolves would answer in the bottom half of the inning on a Marquez Hudson (Monticello/Lawrence County High School) RBI double.

Singley would lead off the bottom of the fourth inning with a single and advance to second on a ground out by Will-Lawson Harkins (Carthage/Leake Academy) and to third on a Parker ground out. Tom Biggs (Columbia, LA/West Monroe High School) singled to right to drive Singley home and give the Wolves a 5-1 lead.

In the top of the fifth, Amani Larry doubled and would score on Boydstun's single to cut the Co-Lin lead to 5-2. The Wolves would answer in the bottom of the inning. With one out, White Bizot and Noah Freeman (Mendenhall/Simpson Academy) would hit back-to-back-to-back singles to load the bases. Singley's RBI single would allow White to score and give Co-Lin the 6-2 lead.

Peyton Parker threw the complete game win for the Wolves. He allowed one earned run, scattered seven hits, struck out eight and walked four.

Hayden West absorbed the loss for East Central. He allowed three runs on three hits, struck out one and walked one. Gates Pee relieved West in the second inning. He gave up one run on one hit and struck out one. Walker Johnson also saw action on the mound for the Warriors. He threw three innings, allowed two runs on seven hits, struck out four and walked one. Miles Miller pitched the sixth inning striking out one and walking one.

At the plate for Co-Lin, Bizot was 2-for-2 with a home run, single and three RBIs. White, Paker and Singley had multiple hits. Hudson doubled and had an RBI. Hitting safely were Biggs (one RBI) and Freeman.

Cook and Boydstun had multiple hits for East Central. Adding support were Larry, Lewis and Turnage.

NEXT UP | Co-Lin will host Mississippi Delta on Saturday for a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.  Watch live at www.colinathletics.com