Wolves Split Conference Opener Against Bulldogs

PERKINSTON – The Co-Lin Baseball team opened conference play on the road against Gulf Coast on Wednesday, March 13. The Wolves and Bulldogs split the doubleheader with the Bulldogs taking game one, 12-6, while the Wolves rebounded to pick up a game two win, 7-4.

GAME ONE

The Wolves got on the board first with a solo run in the top of the second as Jon David Weed (Terry) hit a leadoff double. Weed then took third on a passed ball and scored on an RBI groundout by Sawyer Dunn (Magee) to give the Wolves a 1-0 lead.

The Bulldogs then scored two in the third, one in the fourth, and one in the fifth while holding the Wolves scoreless to take a 4-1 lead. The Wolves then cut into the lead with a pair of runs in the sixth as Weed hit another leadoff double to get things going. Jordan McKenzie (Franklinton, LA) reached on an error while Dunn was hit-by-pitch to load the bases with no outs. Weed then scored while the Bulldogs pulled off a double play then McKenzie scored as Ryland Hemphill (Florence) reached on an error making the score, 4-3.

The Bulldogs then scored eight runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a commanding lead over the Wolves, 12-3. The Wolves then began a comeback effort in the ninth as the inning was started with back-to-back hit-by-pitch for Sam Cook (Shubuta) and Riley Easterling (Brookhaven). Brentley Berry (Magee) then drew a walk while Tucker Jones (Brandon) was then hit-by-pitch scoring Cook to cut the lead down to 12-4. Easterling then scored as Jones was forced out on a fielder's choice by Hagan Coumbe (Utica) while a sacrifice fly by Weed scored Berry cutting the lead down to 12-6. A groundout then ended the game sealing the 12-6 win for the Bulldogs.

The Wolves totaled seven hits as a team with JD Weed leading the way going 2-for-4 at the plate while Brentley Berry, Tucker Jones, Jordan McKenzie, Lucas Harrington (Youngsville, LA), and Isaac McClenty (Ridgeland) had one hit each. Weed, Jones, Hagan Coumbe, and Sawyer Dunn had one RBI each.

Dee Morgan (Tallulah, LA) got the start and moved to 1-3 on the season pitching 3.1 innings and allowing three runs, all earned, on two hits with four walks and two strikeouts. Jayden Duncan (Foxworth) pitched two innings of relief allowing nine runs, seven earned, on five hits with two walks and one strikeout while Caleb Flynn (Laurel) pitched 2.2 innings of scoreless relief allowing two hits with two strikeouts.

GAME TWO

Once again, the Wolves got on the board first with a single run in the top of the second as Lucas Harrington reached on a fielder's choice. Harrington then went from first to third on a single by Sawyer Dunn and then scored on an error to give the Wolves a 1-0 lead.

The Bulldogs then took the lead with a two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth making the score, 2-1. However, the Wolves responded by retaking the lead with three runs in the top of the fifth as Isaac McClenty reached base on an error to get the offense going. McClenty then advanced to third on a double by Brentley Berry and scored on an RBI single by Tucker Jones to tie the game at 2-2. Both Berry and Jones then scored on a two-RBI double by Hagan Coumbe giving the Wolves a 4-2 lead.

The Wolves lead was short-lived as the Bulldogs hit their second two-run home run of the game in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game at 4-4. The Wolves responded with their second-straight three-run inning in the top of the sixth to take their third lead of the game.

Lucas Harrington drew a walk while Braden Freeman (Terry) was then brought in as a pinch runner. Dunn was then hit-by-pitch while Spencer Wilson (McComb) drew a walk to load the bases with no outs. Ryland Hemphill was then hit-by-pitch scoring Freeman to give the Wolves a 5-4 lead. Reise Thomas (Florence) was then brought on as a pinch runner for Hemphill and was forced out as Berry reached on a fielder's choice while Dunn scored to increase the lead for the Wolves. Jones and Coumbe then drew back-to-back walks scoring Wilson to give the Wolves a 7-4 lead.

The Wolves then held the Bulldogs to just one baserunner in the sixth and seventh innings combined to secure the 7-4 game two win and split of the doubleheader.

The Wolves totaled seven hits as a team with Tucker Jones and Hagan Coumbe each going 2-for-3 at the plate while Brentley Berry, Jordan McKenzie, and Sawyer Dunn had one hit apiece. Coumbe led the Wolves with three RBIs with Berry, Jones, and Ryland Hemphill had one RBI each.

Coby Gollott (Ocean Springs) pitched his second straight complete game in as many starts for the Wolves and improved to 2-1 on the season. Gollot allowed four runs, all earned, on seven hits with two walks and a new career-high 13 strikeouts.

Co-Lin is now 13-13 overall, 1-1 in conference play, and will return to action on the road against Northwest on Saturday, March 16. First pitch between the Wolves and Rangers is set for 2 p.m., at Jim Miles Field in Senatobia.