WESSON – The Co-Lin Wolves split a big South Division baseballdoubleheader Wednesday with the Pearl River Wildcats. Pearl Riverwon the opener 4-2 in eight inning and Co-Lin came back to capturethe finale 7-3 in Sullivan Stadium.

Co-Lin (22-18, 9-11) visits Summit Saturday to meet divisionrival Southwest in the final doubleheader of the Fourth AnnualCoca-Cola Powerade Challenge. The first game kicks off at 1p.m.

With the split, Pearl River falls to 17-22.

“I’m proud of the guys for coming back and winning the secondgame,” said Co-Lin head baseball coach Keith Case. “Pearl River hasa good ball club, a lot of good pitchers.”

P. River 4, Co-Lin 2

Pearl River led Co-Lin 2-0 until the bottom of the fourth inningwhere the Wolves scored 2 runs to tie the game at 2-all. CameronLogan led off with a single. With 2 out, Matthew Freeman singled upthe middle to score Logan from second base. Bennett Wilson singledto shallow right to score Freeman.

The Wildcats came back with 2 runs in the top of the eighth forthe 4-2 lead and eventual win.

“It’s tough to stomach that one,” said Case. “We had threeerrors in the eighth. Our defense broke down. And we left thebasses loaded three times.”

Southpaw reliever Will Mann was the winning pitcher with 2strikeouts and 1 walk in the final 2 innings. Starter Josh Jonesstruck out 4, walked 3 and allowed 2 runs on 7 hits.

Going the distance in the loss was Christian Malbrough with 6strikeouts, 3 walks and 4 runs allowed on 6 hits. In the eighth,Malbrough fielded a bunt in front of home plate and threw wildly tosecond in an effort to pick off the lead runner.

“Malbrough (2-3) pitched well,” stated Case. “We were 2-2 goinginto eighth.”

For the Wolves, Bennett Wilson and Freeman led with 2 singlesapiece. Cable McMinn doubled.

The Wildcats got a solo home run from Ashley Graeter. DerekTortorich collected 2 singles.

Co-Lin 7, P. River 3

Sophomore right-hander Joseph Evans (5-1) of Lawrence Countyhelped pitch the Wolves to the win in the second game with 4strikeouts, 4 walks and 3 runs allowed on 5 hits. Reliever BrockCampbell worked the final inning with 1 strikeout and 1 hitallowed.

“Joseph really pitched good for us,” said Case. “He injured hisfinger in the first inning. He really impressed with histenacity.

Saddled with the loss was starter Corbin Blaize in 4 inningswith 2 strikeouts, 4 walks and 7 runs allowed on 5 hits. KodyLancaster worked the fifth inning and Sean Kelly finished out thegame.

Co-Lin scored 3 runs in the bottom of the third for a 3-0 lead.With 2 out, Jeff DeBlieux was hit by a pitch, then stole second andthird base. Jarred Rogers walked. McMinn singled to score DeBlieux.Rogers went to second. Cameron Logan singled through the infieldand Rogers scored the second run on Blaize’s wild throw. McMinnalso scored.

The Wolves carried a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the fifth wherethey put together 4 more runs for a 7-1 advantage.

Wilson and DeBlieux were walked to start the inning. Rogersreached base on Tortorich’s wild throw. With the bases loaded,McMinn doubled to deep center to score Wilson and DeBlieux. Rogersadvance to third. Lancaster replaced Blaize on the mound. Logansingled to left-center to score Rogers and McMinn.

Adding support to the Co-Lin win was Luke Brumfield with 2singles.

For Pearl River, Jake Hawkins led with a triple and a single.Doubling was Graeter.