By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director
BILOXI — Perennial state power Petal took down St. Martin 13-7 Thursday night here at Keesler Federal Park in the 10th annual Battle at the Beach.
The Panthers overcame a 6-3 deficit with a nine run explosion in the top of the fourth inning to take control of the contest and move to 11-5 overall, while the Yellow Jackets drop to 7-5 after this match-up that could be a preview of a possible pairing in the upcoming Class 7A South State playoffs late next month.
Petal sent 13 batters to the plate in that decisive frame, and got just five hits, including a two-run double by Trey Barnes. However, five St. Martin errors of various sizes, shapes and forms also contributed heavily to the big inning for the Panthers.
Both Barnes and Nathan Garner had two hits and three RBI’s apiece for PHS.
Freshman Brentley Schulze had two hits and drove in a run for St. Martin. Noah Jenner had a two-run single in the bottom of the second to help his Yellow Jackets overcome an early 3-0 deficit and take a 4-3 lead at that point.
Will Jalanivich also drove in two runs for SMHS.
River Groue, one of four Yellow Jacket hurlers, took the loss on the mound. Cooper Smith earned the win for Petal.
St. Martin wraps up play in the BATB with a home game Saturday afternoon against Collierville, Tenn.
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