By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

IRVINGTON, Ala. — St. Martin heads into the annual “Battle at the Beach” coming off an impressive win.

The visiting Yellow Jackets blanked Alma Bryant 4-0 Thursday night thanks to a solid two-hit shutout pitching performance from Lincoln Hust.

The win moves St. Martin to 5-2 overall on the young season under the guidance of veteran head coach Kary Bridges, as the Yellow Jackets return home to host Presbyterian Christian out of Hattiesburg Friday night as both teams begin play in the BATB.

St. Martin decided to give Hust all the help he would need offensively right off the bat against the home-standing Hurricanes, as the Yellow Jackets scored three quick runs to take a decisive 3-0 lead in the first frame.

Cameron Romero led the game off with a single, followed by a walk to Sean Stigletts and then Noah Jenner was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs.

Two batters later, Romero and Stigletts scored on a ground ball off the bat of Will Roebuck that the Hurricane infield misplayed into an error to make it 2-0. Gavin Nitcavic followed that with a run-scoring sacrifice fly to give the visitors a 3-0 lead before Hust even took the mound.

But when he did, he ensured that trio of runs would be more than enough for him as he twirled a masterpiece scattering just two singles and striking out 13 and walking none in going the distance.

Just for good measure, SMHS designated hitter Daxon Hill smacked a solo home run to lead off the top of the fourth frame giving both Hust and his teammates a little insurance at 4-0.

St. Martin will play host to four days of BATB action beginning Friday night.