Pearl River Central rallies in seventh to top Saltillo

PEARL – Saltillo fell victim to some Blue Devil magic on Tuesday.

After blowing a five-run lead, Pearl River Central rallied with four runs in the seventh inning to edge the Tigers 12-11 in Game 1 of the MHSAA Class 6A championship series at Trustmark Park. Game 2 is scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday.

Saltillo (28-7), the reigning state champ, was one out away from winning it when J.J. Morreale smashed a three-run triple to tie things up. He then scored on Eric Mavor’s single for the walk-off victory.

“It was 8-3, and they came back and took the lead. We had a huddle, (coach) said, ‘Man, we don’t give up around here.’ Seventh-inning magic with the Blue Devils,” Morreale said.

The designated hitter, who bats at the top of PRC’s order, led an 11-hit attack. He was 3 for 5 with four RBIs and two runs scored. He had a big hand in the Blue Devils’ seven-run third inning, with two hits in the frame, including an RBI double.

That outburst put PRC (30-7) up 8-3, but Saltillo didn’t fold.

The Tigers got a two-run single from Jase Pee in the fourth, and they added three more runs in the fifth to tie the game. The momentum continued into the sixth, with Logan Heisel and E-Jay Rogers each driving in a run for a 10-8 advantage.

Saltillo starting pitcher Cody Carnathan bounced back from the rough third inning and kept the Blue Devils off the board for the next three frames. He was lifted after walking the leadoff batter in the seventh and was charged with nine runs on nine hits. Reliever Coley McLarty took the loss.

“We’ve bounced back all year,” Tigers coach Eric Reynolds said. “We’ve had to come from behind in big games. I expect our guys to be ready to go tomorrow. We’ve got to figure out what we can do better and keep them from being able to use their speed game.”

PRC opened the scoring in the second inning when Mavor scored on a passed ball. Saltillo answered in the third as Luke Reynolds smacked a two-run triple and then scored on Heisel’s groundout.

Saltillo finished with 10 hits. Pee, the nine-hole hitter, was 2 for 3 with two RBIs and two runs scored, while Maddox Arriola scored three runs.

Extra Bases

Big Inning: After the first two PRC batters walked, McLarty retired the next two hitter before walking Parker Harper to load the bases for Morreale.

Big Stat: Eight of PRC’s batters had at least one hit.

Coach Speak: “He’s going to compete, he’s going to give us all he’s got. Make the routine plays behind him, score a few runs, and I feel good about it.” – Reynolds, on Game 2 starter Korbin Sheffield