Williams slugs 3 homers; Co-Lin sweeps Bears

Published 5:00 am Wednesday, April 7, 2004

WESSON — Co-Lin second baseman Patrick Williams swung the bigbat Tuesday at Sullivan Field. Williams hit three home runs,sparking the Wolves to 9-5 and 10-6 victories over the SouthwestMississippi Community College Bears.

Williams, (5-11, 171), a freshman from Crystal Springs (CopiahAcademy), hit his fifth, sixth and seventh homers of the season. Inthe opener, with Co-Lin clinging to a shaky 6-4 lead in the sixth,Williams launched a 3-run shot far over the left field fence.

“It was a 2-0 pitch and I got a fastball inside,” explainedWilliams as he sat in the dugout and munched on a sandwich betweengames. We had lost a lot of people to injury so we had to stepup.”

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The Wolves raised their record to 22-9 overall and 6-2 in theSouth Division. The hard-luck Bears slipped to 10-20 and 0-8.Southwest was victimized by 4 rally-killing double plays in theopener.

Co-Lin centerfielder Keeyon Sanders had led off the game with along triple off of Southwest starter Matt Bayse (0-2). Sandersscored the first run of the game and highlighted a 4-run explosionin the bottom of the first inning.

In the sixth, after Southwest had reduced Co-Lin’s lead to 5-4,Sanders delivered an RBI single which gave Co-Lin a 6-4advantage.

“I was just trying to do my job and get the run in,” saidSanders, a freshman from Baton Rouge (Belaire). “Southwest has agood ballclub. We have to stay focused and play good defense.”

While Williams finished with 3 hits, Sanders, DH Cole Zumbro,leftfielder Justin Sykes, third baseman Diego Nucete and firstbaseman Ben Sandifer accounted for 2 hits apiece.

“That was a very big homer by Patrick,” said Co-Lin head coachKeith Case. “Southwest had come back but then you could feel theemotion change. It was a big win for us.”

Southwest got 3 hits from shortstop Jon Birdsong. Leadoff batterWill Evans and designated hitter Trent Malbrough had 2 hits.

“The first inning set the tempo and we started off in the hole,”said Southwest head coach Butch Holmes. “We had to catch up withthem.”

The Bears collected 11 hits, 9 of them off winning pitcher TylerPerrett who hiked his record to 6-0. Perrett struck out 1 batter,walked 2 and hit 3 batters.

In the sixth, Ryan Belanger replaced Perrett on the mound. Abases-loaded, 2-run double by Malbrough over the third base bagreduced Co-Lin’s lead to 5-4. Belanger struck out the next 2batters to end the comeback.

In the bottom of the sixth, Sandifer led off with a double.Jeffrey Waycaster’s sacrifice bunt advanced the runner and AaronGuillot stroked a bloop single to right off relief pitcher MattBerry. Sanders followed with an RBI single. That set the stage forWilliams.

Co-Lin 10, Southwest 6

Zumbro (3-1) started and pitched the victory in the nightcap. Hescattered 9 hits, allowed 5 earned runs, struck out 3 and walkednone.

“Cole did a good job,” said Case. “He battled through it and gotus a complete game.”

Southwest got 2 homers from Evans, including a 2-out grand slamin the fourth. The Bears reduced their deficit to 2 runs, 8-6.

Williams homered in the 4th and 6th innings to put a chill onSouthwest’s rally. He went 4-for-4.

Sanders contributed 3 hits to the victory. Jeffrey Waycaster had2 hits.

Nick Aguilera started on the mound for Southwest and absorbedthe loss. He gave up 7 runs on 7 hits, struck out 2 and walked 1 asthe Wolves raced to a 7-1, second-inning lead.

Co-Lin resumes play Friday at Jones County in Ellisville. Thetwinbill starts at noon.