By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

PICAYUNE — Home-standing Picayune clinched its Region 4-6A opening round series against Pascagoula with a 6-1 win Saturday afternoon here at Kent Kirkland Field.

The Maroon Tide won the first game earlier in the week with ease, 14-2 over the Panthers, before Pascagoula stunned Picayune Friday night 7-6 in eight innings.

But Saturday’s rubber match was all Maroon Tide, as Picayune moved to a solid 14-2 overall and Pascagoula is 4-12.

In the third and deciding game, Justin Stockstill gave the home team a lead it would never relinquish with a run-scoring ground out to make it 1-0.

Stockstill was again the man with the plan three frames later, as his two-run triple made it 3-0 and Parker Helton’s RBI-sacrifice fly put Picayune up 4-0.

The Maroon Tide stretched their advantage to 6-0 in the sixth stanza when a single by Cooper Moreaux with two runners on was misplayed by the Panthers into a run-scoring error and then Eli Schubert drove in a run with an RBI-sacrifice fly.

Pascagoula plated its only run of the day in the top of the seventh when Hunter Bingham drove in a run with a run-scoring ground out.

Stockstill posted game-high totals in both hits and RBIs with three each to pace Picayune at the plate, while Helton added two hits and one RBI as well.

Helton also dominated on the mound, going the distance and scattering just four singles while striking out seven and walking three.

Johan Baez took the loss for Pascagoula.

On Friday night, The Panthers erased three separate deficits for the 7-6 comeback win in eight innings.

Pascagoula trailed 4-3 entering the bottom of the seventh, but Sebastian Ford was hit by a pitch with two outs and the bases-loaded to knot things up and send it into the extra session.

Picayune then scored two runs, on RbI-singles from both Tanner Pugh and Moreaux, to surge back into the lead at 6-4.

But the Panthers weren’t to be denied, scratching out three runs in their at bat and Carlos Fernandez provided the game-winning run with an RBI-sacrifice fly that plated Matt Dittsworth in the bottom of the eighth.

\

Dittsworth, J.J. Trinidad and Knute Robinson all had two hits apiece to pace Pascagoula at the plate. Jarrad Loper also had a key RBI-sacrifice fly in the decisive bottom of the eighth, and Willie Sims drew a bases-loaded walk as well.

Moreaux and Colt Robertson each had a double apiece for Picayune.

Ra’Shard Earnest pitched the final two frames for the Panthers to pick up the win.

Makon Burnette took the loss for the Maroon Tide.