Hudson, Parker power Co-Lin past Gulf Coast

WESSON– Sophomores Marquez Hudson and Peyton Parker powered the Co-Lin Wolves to a sweep of Mississippi Gulf Coast 9-7 and 3-0 in baseball action today.

GAME 1

Hudson (Monticello/Lawrence County High School) hit a walk-off three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth to give the Wolves a dramatic 9-7 win.

After three scoreless innings, Gulf Coast got on the board first with a Canaan Ray solo home run.

The Wolves tied the game at 1-all in the bottom half of the inning. Tom Biggs (Columbia, LA/West Monroe High School) led off the inning with a single to center and stole second base. With two outs, Ben White (Natchez/Cathedral High School) hit an RBI single to right allowing Biggs to cross the plate with the tying run.

Co-Lin took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. Noah Freeman (Mendenhall/Simpson Academy) was hit by a pitch. Wade Nichols (Brandon/McLaurin High School) hit a bunt infield single. Peyton Parker's (West Monroe, LA/West Ouachita High School) RBI single to center scored Freeman and gave the Wolves a 2-1 lead. Biggs flied to left, but Nichols was able to tag up and score from third to increase the lead to 3-1.

Gulf Coast got one of those runs back in the top of the sixth as Josh Cary score on a passed ball making the score 3-2.

In the bottom half of the sixth, White was hit by a pitch, advanced on a passed ball and took third on Hunter Estes' single. Freeman singled to right allowing White to score to put Co-Lin up 4-2. Will-Lawson Harkins (Carthage/Leake Academy) singled to load the bases. Estes scored on an error by the second baseman increasing the Co-Lin lead to 5-2.

The Wolves looked to be cruising along as they took a 6-2 lead in the bottom of the seventh on Hudson's solo home run to left field.

In the top of the ninth, the Bulldogs put together a two out rally to take a 7-6 lead. With Brendan McCauley on first, Dawson Walters singled, Josh Cary followed with a single to load the bases. Ray singled to drive in McCauley and Walters to cut the Co-Lin lead to 6-4. Alex McWhorter came to the plate and smashed a three-run home run as Gulf Coast took their first lead of the game.

In the bottom of the ninth with one out, Parker doubled and Biggs drew a walk. Hudson came to the plate and smacked his second home run in the game to give the Wolves a 9-7 walk off win.

Tucker Jones picked up the win for Co-Lin. He allowed five runs on five hits, struck and struck out one in an inning of work. Biggs was the starter pitching 4.1 innings allowing one earned run on three hits and striking out three. Tanner Watts (Brookhaven/Brookhaven Academy) relieved Biggs in the fifth. He gave up one earned run on four hits and struck out three in two innings. Also seeing action on the mound for the Wolves was Hunter Reinike who pitched 1.2 innings and gave up only one hit.

McWhorter took the loss for the Bulldogs, he gave up three runs, allowed two hits and walked one. Hayden Robb, Brock Jones, and Evan Keith all saw action for Gulf Coast on the mound.

At the plate for Co-Lin, Hudson had two home runs and four RBIs. Parker and White had a double and a single apiece. Harkins collected a pair of singles. Adding support with a single apiece were Estes, Freeman, Biggs and Nichols.

Gulf Coast was led at the plate by Ray with a home run and two singles for three RBIs. McWhorter had a home run and a single for three RBIs. Also hitting for the Bulldogs were Cary, Noah Blythe, Ethan Coleman, McCauley, Tucker Thomas and Walters.

GAME 2

In game two, Peyton Parker threw a complete game four hit shutout to secure the sweep for the Wolves. He struck out 11 and walked none.

Co-Lin took a 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning. Parker doubled to left field. Biggs followed with a single. Kenner Bizot (Wesson/Wesson Attendance Center) singled to right to drive in Parker and Biggs.

The Wolves picked their final run in the bottom of the sixth. Parker led off with a double, stole third and scored on Bizot's sacrifice fly to center.

Dawson Flowers took the loss for Gulf Coast. He allowed three earned runs on five hits, struck out seven and walked one.

Parker led Co-Lin at the plate with a pair of doubles. Bizot had a pair of singles and drove in all three Co-Lin runs.

At the plate for Gulf Coast, Drake Henderson had a double. Collecting a hit apiece were Walters, Luke Welborn and McWhorter.

NEXT UP: Co-Lin will play host to Northwest Mississippi for a doubleheader with the Rangers on Sunday, April 19, beginning at 2 p.m.