Wolves Sweep Indians in Pair of One Run Games

FULTON – The Co-Lin Baseball team took to the road for a conference doubleheader against Itawamba on Saturday, April 6. The Wolves swept the Indians taking both games by a single run with a 4-3 victory in game one and winning game two, 5-4.

GAME ONE

The Indians got on the board first as they took advantage of back-to-back hits with one out to score a solo run and take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first.

However, the Wolves responded with a solo run of their own in the top of the second as Jon David Weed (Terry) got the inning going with a leadoff single and advanced to second on the play. Later in the inning, Weed took third on a single by Brentley Berry (Magee) and then scored on a two-out RBI single by Spencer Wilson (McComb) to tie the game at 1-1. The Wolves looked poised to have a big scoring inning after a bunt single by Isaac McClenty (Ridgeland) loaded the bases, but a lineout brought the inning to an end with the game still tied.

The Wolves then plated a single run in the top of the third as Tucker Jones (Brandon) hit a leadoff double while Hagan Coumbe (Utica) followed up by drawing a walk. Weed then singled to load the bases with no outs. Later in the inning, Ryland Hemphill (Florence) drew a walk with the bases loaded scoring Jones and giving the Wolves a 2-1 lead. A double play then ended the inning and limited the Wolves to just one run scored.

The Indians then tied the game with a single run in the bottom of the third making the score, 2-2. However, the Wolves found another response by scoring two runs in the top of the fourth as McClenty hit a one-out double to get the offense going. Brayden Bankston (Terry) was then hit-by-pitch to put two runners on with one out. After both runners advanced on a groundout, Coumbe delivered a two-out, two-RBI single scoring McClenty and Bankston to give the Wolves a 4-2 lead.

The Indians then cut the lead down to one run with a solo home one with one out in the bottom of the fourth to cut the Wolves lead down to 4-3. The Indians then looked to have a big inning in the bottom of the sixth as they loaded the bases with one out, but the Wolves forced an inning ending double play to maintain their lead.

The Wolves then secured the 4-3 victory as they retired nine straight batters from the seventh through ninth innings after a leadoff single in the bottom of the seventh.

The Wolves totaled nine hits as Tucker Jones, JD Weed, and Isaac McClenty had two hits apiece while Hagan Coumbe, Brentley Berry, and Spencer Wilson had one hit each. Coumbe led the Wolves in RBIs with two while Wilson and Ryland Hemphill had one RBI each.

Andin Bolen (Lucedale) got the start for the Wolves and improved to 4-0 overall while pitching 5.1 innings and allowing three runs, all earned, on eight hits with four walks and five strikeouts. Lucas Harrington (Youngsville, LA) pitched 0.2 innings of relief allowing one hit. Coby Gollott (Ocean Springs) picked up his third save of the season while pitching three innings of scoreless and hitless relief while retiring all nine batters he faced in order.

GAME TWO

The second game of the day also had the Indians scoring first as they hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first to take a 2-0 lead. However, the Wolves responded with two runs in the top of the second to tie the game as JD Weed and Brentley Berry hit back-to-back singles to start the inning.

Both runners then advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Jordan McKenzie (Franklinton, LA). Later in the inning, Weed scored on a wild pitch while Braydon Evans (Florence) drew a walk. The Wolves then pulled off a double steal as Evans swiped second and Berry stole home on the play to tie the game at 2-2.

The Indians then took advantage of an error by the Wolves in the bottom of the second to plate a single run and regain the lead at 3-2. However, the Wolves responded with a single run in the top of the third as Brayden Bankston hit a leadoff single to get the offense going. After Bankston took second on a passed ball, Coumbe drew a walk to put two runners on with one out while Bankston was then forced out as Weed reached on a fielder's choice. Brentley Berry then drew a walk to load the bases while McKenzie then drew a second consecutive walk scoring Coumbe and tying the game at 3-3.

The game remained tied until the Wolves scored a single run in the top of the fifth as Coumbe hit a leadoff double and then later scored on a two-out, RBI double by McKenzie giving the Wolves a 4-3 lead. However, the Indians took advantage of another Wolves error in the bottom of the fifth to score one run and tie the game at 4-4.

The Wolves regained the lead with a single run in the top of the seventh as Tucker Jones hit a leadoff single, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Coumbe, and then scored on an RBI single by Weed making the score, 5-4.

The Indians then got a one-out single in the bottom of the seventh, but a groundout followed by a game-ending strikeout sealed the 5-4 game two victory and sweep for the Wolves.

The Wolves totaled nine hits as a team with Tucker Jones and JD Weed leading the way with two hits apiece while Brayden Bankston, Hagan Coumbe, Brentley Berry, Jordan McKenzie, and Isaac McClenty had one hit each. McKenzie led the Wolves in RBIs with two while Weed had one RBI.

Connor Pittman (Waynesboro) got the start and improved to 6-4 overall while pitching 6.1 innings and allowing four runs, one earned, on five hits with three walks and nine strikeouts. Caleb Flynn (Laurel) picked up his first career save with 0.2 innings of relief with one strikeout and retiring both batters he faced.

Co-Lin improves to 19-21 overall, 7-9 in conference play, and returns to action hosting Meridian on Tuesday, April 9. First pitch between the Eagles and the Wolves is set for 3 p.m., at Sullivan Field in Wesson.