From staff and special reports

POPLARVILLE — Derek Tortorich belted a grand slam home run in the bottom of the seventh to propel Pearl River Community College to a 11-7 victory over arch-rival Mississippi Gulf Coast to insure an MACJC South Division doubleheader split Sunday at Wildcat Field.

After losing 7-3 in the first game of the twin bill, PRCC rallied from a six-run deficit in the second contest to take the win and improve to 15-13 overall and 3-7 in division play. The visiting Bulldogs dropped to 20-8 and 7-3.

“Maybe this one will give is a little confidence lift,” said Wildcat head coach Jamie McMahon. “We’ve had some tough luck lately. This is definitely a positive boost to comeback like that and beat a very good baseball team.”

Tortorich, a former prep standout at Pearl River Central High, was the big blow of the nightcap for the Wildcats as Kody Lancaster (3-2) got the win in relief. PRCC trailed 6-0 at one point in the game.

Tortorich, who also added a single in the win, wasn’t the only big stick as RCC finished with nine hits as Jake Hawkins doubled and singled, Zack Farrar had two singles, and Ethan Burt, Matt Discon (one RBI), and Ashley Graeter all doubled.

In the first game, the Bulldogs bombed the Wildcats for four runs in the top of the opening frame and never really looked back, although the Wildcats pulled to within one run at 4-3 in the third when Graeter, a prep standout at Poplarville high, led off with a solo homer over the left field wall, then Burt followed suit with a dinger out of right center two outs later.

PRCC starter Josh Jones (2-2) got the loss in his three-and-one-thirds innings of action, striking out four and walking two before being relieved.

Burt and Graeter both homered to paced Pearl River’s four-hit effort, while Discon and Farrar both doubled. Gulf Coast had 11 hits in the win.

Pearl River returns to MACJC South Division action Wednesday when East Central plays host for a 2 p.m. doubleheader in Decatur, then division foe Hinds hosts Saturday, April 4, in Raymond (1 p.m. doubleheader).