MONTICELLO — The Lawrence County Cougars kept their dreamseason rolling Thursday night in the first round of the MississippiClass 4A Playoffs with a first-round bracket win over Wayne County7-0.

The Cougars host Region 6-4A rival McComb today at noon. Thewinner will advance to Saturday’s 4:00 bracket championship whilethe loser will play again tonight beginning at 6:00.

Lawrence Co. 7, Wayne Co. 0

Coached by Corey Keyes, the Cougars (23-5) used a seven-runfourth inning to overwhelm the War Eagles. Lawrence County waspaced by the hot bat of third baseman Joseph Evans with an RBIdouble and an RBI single in the inning alone.

Trent Hartzog and Jonathan Stephens also collected a pair ofsingles for RBI’s in the frame.

On the mound, Cougar starter Jake Russell was electric, strikingout 10 Wayne County batters and walking two for the win.

“Hats off to Wayne County, they are a classy bunch of guys andthey gave us all we could handle throughout the game,” said Keyes.”Jake pitched a good game and he gave us a chance to win.”

The War Eagles (9-17) could not find an answer to Russell theentire night while the Cougars kept hitting.

“The Lawrence County pitcher (Russell) did a good job,” saidWayne County coach Mike Gavin. “He located his pitches and theirhitters hit the ball. We played hard, but couldn’t hit theball.”

Dillon Boyles (1-4) absorbed the loss for the Eagles, with threestrikeouts and four walks.

At the plate, Cade Clinton, Justin Rigney, and Bryson Brewercollected the Eagles only hits.

For Lawrence County, Taebyus Smith and Marty Ballard added twosingles apiece.

McComb 5, Quitman 0

McComb senior pitching ace Justin Hay threw a two hitter, as theTigers collected the upset over Quitman 5-0. Hay struck four outand walked one.

The Tigers (12-14) got a single and a double from Abel Stuartand two singles from Cass Coon in the win. Alonzo Harris added adouble.

For Quitman, Vance Taylor suffered the loss with six strikeoutson five walks.

McComb took a 2-0 lead in the third inning before increasingtheir total to 4-0 in the fifth.