By Curtis Rockwell/Sports Director

CARRIERE — The Pearl River Central baseball team is one win away from making a third straight trip to the Class 6A South State championship series.
The Blue Devils toppled visiting West Jones 7-3 Saturday night in game one of that Class 6A South State series. PRC can clinch the series and a return date to play for a trip to the overall Class 6A state finals later this week with another win on the road Monday night in Soso.

A three-run third frame rally by PRC, that included a key tw-run double by Kendall Morrison, turned an early 1-0 deficit into a 3-1 lead for the home team as well as a lead it would never relinquish.
Blake Gill, who also posted an RBI-single in that third inning, then sealed the deal for PRC with a two-run double in the bottom of the fifth.
Gill’s two hits and three RBIs paced PRC at the plate, while Kandyn Wilson also had two hits and Morrison those two RBIs.
On the hill, Ayden Radosta went the distance to pick up the pitching win for the Blue Devils.

Mustang ace Clay Tolbert, a Southern Miss signee and the Class 6A “Mr. Baseball” this season, took the loss after working into the sixth.
A third and final game, if needed, will be back in Carriere Tuesday night. PRC sits an impressive 26-5 overall while WJHS is 18-10.

The winner of this series faces the winner of the George County vs. Hancock match-up later this week in the Class 6A South State finals. The Rebels are up one game to none in that one.

PRC and George County have met in the past two Class 6A South State title tilts, with the Rebels winning both.