By Curtis Rockwell/Sports Director

CARRIERE — Pearl River Central stopped a five game losing streak to George County on the baseball diamond Thursday night in impressive fashion.

And in doing so, the Blue Devils not only kept their season alive, but also their chances of returning to the state championship round for the first time in nine years as well.

Home-standing PRC thumped the Rebels 10-2 in game two of the Class 6A South State championship series to even the best-of-three affair up at one game apiece. The rubber match is set for Friday night in Lucedale.

The survivor of this series faces defending Class 6A state champ Saltillo next week at Trustmark Park in Pearl in the title tilt.

In game two, PRC scored the final eight runs of the game to break a 2-2 tie early and take the win. The Blue Devils got a key two-run double from versatile junior standout Kendall Morrison in a big three run third frame to take a lead they would never relinquish at 5-2.

Then, JJ Morealle’s two-run single in the next stanza keyed a four-run rally to basically seal the deal at 9-2.

Landyn Wilson paced PRC at the plate with a game-high four hits, including a triple, and he scored three runs.

Ayden Radosta breezed to the win on the mound for the Blue Devils, tossing a complete game.

Carson Pierce, the first of four Rebel hurlers, took the loss. He threw 105 pitches in only three frames of work, and allowed seven hits.

Peyton Havard had two hits for GCHS, and Gage Johnston had a double.

This marks the third straight season that these two teams have faced off in the Class 6A South State finals, and George County has won the previous two. The Rebels won the state title two years ago, before falling to Saltillo last season in the title tilt.

PRC won its only state championship in baseball back in 2017, on its last trip to the champiosnhip round.

Saltillo swept Grenada in two games last week to win its second straight Class 6A North State crown.