MONTICELLO – The McComb Tigers’ three-run rally in the fourth inning secured a 5-4 baseball triumph over the West Lincoln Bears Friday in Lawrence County’s Southwest Mississippi Spring Break Invitational.

“This was a great game,” said McComb first-year head coach Ronald Hines. “Both teams played hard. The game could have went either way. Fortunately, we managed to capture the win.”

The Bears (1-8) return to action Tuesday. West Lincoln begins Region 7-1A action and hosts the Natchez Cathedral Green Wave. Junior varsity starts at 5 p.m., followed by the varsity game at 7.

McComb 5, W. Lincoln 4

On a beautiful Friday afternoon, the Bears and Tigers battled in an almost noise-free ball game, with the exception of music playing between innings.

West Lincoln came out strong like they did in the game against Enterprise and took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning.

McComb (5-11, 0-2) fought back and tied the game at 2-all in the bottom of the third inning.

The Bears reclaimed their lead in the top of the fourth inning. Senior pitcher Jared Case smashed a two-run shot over the right-center field fence for a 4-2 lead.

In the bottom of the fourth, McComb managed to continue their aggressive hitting streak from the third inning. The Tigers battled hard to claim their first lead at 5-4 and held on for the win in six innings of action.

Lee Chisholm absorbed the setback for the Bears with one strikeout and no walks. Case (3K, 2BB) was the starting pitcher for West Lincoln. Jeremy Burns (0K, 0BB) pitched one inning of relief.

Case was the offensive leader for the Bears with a home run. Brady Wilson provided two singles. Burns ripped a double and Sam Bivens hit a single.

“We left too many runners on base,” said West Lincoln coach Steve Barrington. “We have to do a better job on putting the ball into play when we have runners on base in scoring position.

“Overall, our real season starts next week as we begin our region action,” continued Barrington. “The guys better come ready to work hard.”

Henry McDonald was the winning pitcher for McComb. He pitched six innings, gathering five strikeouts, giving up 4 hits and allowing seven walks.

“We are a very young team,” stated Hines. “The guys are working hard to steadily improve in contests and it showed today. West Lincoln has a very good team.”

Adrian Brown directed the Tigers offense with a double and a single. Quartez Brown contributed a pair of singles. Marquel Carroll had a double. Corey Lewis hit safely.