WESSON – Two games, both ending in extra innings, and both ending off of the bat of Copiah Lincoln’s Mitch Little. That was the story in Wesson on Wednesday night as Co-Lin swept Pearl River in MACJC South Division action.

Co-Lin 9, Pearl River 8 

The Wolves (6-12, 2-0) would get on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third inning in game one when Wesley Watts scored on a Ryan Young groundout. Phillip Lott moved to third on the play and would subsequently score on a passed ball.

Co-Lin would add one run in the fifth and three in the sixth, but would still find themselves trailing 8-6 in the bottom of the seventh. Dominic Savage got the Co-Lin rally started with a one out single on a full count. Savage advanced to second after Konner Burke was hit by a pitch and Savage tagged up and moved to third after Colby Whitfield flied out for the second out of the inning. Down to their final out of the game, Co-Lin got a single by Watts to score Savage. Lott would then tie the game up with a single that scored courtesy runner Matthew Evans.

Watts got the win for Co-Lin on the hill after moving from second base to pitch the final two innings. The freshman from Northwest Rankin gave up one hit, walked one and gave up one unearned run. Starter Steven Chisolm pitched 4.1 innings, striking out four, walking three and giving up five runs on five hits. Casey Hurley came in as middle relief for Co-Lin and pitched 1.2 innings and gave up two runs on two hits.

A tie at eight all would set the stage for Little’s heroics in the bottom of the eighth inning. The sophomore third baseman from Copiah Academy crushed a 3-2 offering from Allen Cowart over the left field wall and sent the Co-Lin dugout into a frenzy.

Copiah-Lincoln head coach Clay Smith picked up his first career division win and did so in memorable fashion. “We’ve been battling injuries and had some guys in a slump or two. Mitch missed our last game because of some tightness in his legs, so for us to come out and battle and beat a very good Pearl River team in extra innings, I’m very proud of my guys,” said Smith.

Co-Lin 2, Pearl River 1 

Game two was nothing short of a pitcher’s duel as both teams got complete games from their starters. For Co-Lin the winner was Shane Brown. Brown, a freshman from Simpson Academy, scattered four hits, walked two, struck out four, and gave up one unearned run. Pearl River (11-9, 0-2) countered on the hill with Luke McGee. McGee, a rangy Ohio State transfer, gave up two hits, walked five and struck out eight in the loss.

Co-Lin manufactured their first run in the bottom of the fourth when Choc Hubbard got on base via a walk. Hubbard would move to second on a walk from Mitch Little. The next batter, catcher Logan Smith, showed bunt during his at bat. Smith then took advantage of a charging Pearl River first baseman to slap a bunt over his head and reach on what was scored an error. A bobble of the ball on first base and indecision by the Pearl River defense allowed Hubbard to come around and score on the play.

That would be the only run for Co-Lin in the first seven innings and the teams entered the eighth inning tied at one. Once again it was time for Little to play the part of the hero. McGee retired the first two Co-Lin batters of the inning, but Hubbard would reach on a walk. Little would take strike one looking and then hit a long fly ball to left field that scored Hubbard from first and once again set off a celebration among the Co-Lin faithful.

Co-Lin was originally scheduled to host East Central on Saturday, March 15 at 2 p.m. for a double header. A forecast for rain on Saturday has caused Co-Lin to move the game up one day, to Friday, March 14 at 3 p.m.