After eight tries, Pearl River Community  College finally got into the win column here Tuesday in Wildcat Stadium with an NJCAA baseball doubleheader split with Faulkner State (Ala.).

PRCC fell 4-2 in the first game of the twin bill, but bounced back with an impressive 11-6 victory in the nightcap game to improve to 1-8 overall. The visiting Sun Chiefs from Bay Minette, Ala., are now 1-1 after their season openers.

In the Wildcat victory, Faulkner went up 2-0 in the top of the opening inning off a two-run homer by Andrew Prichard, but Southern Miss signee Ashley Graeter of Poplarville High smashed a two-run home run in the bottom of the frame to propel the Wildcats a five-run effort and a 5-2 lead.

In the top of the second, Daniel Wass’ grand slam home run regained the lead for the Sun Chiefs, but the visitors’ scoring stopped there. PRCC tied it up in the bottom of the inning, then added five more in the third for the last runs of the contest.

Freshman lefthander Buck Bernard of Petal High (1-0) got the win in going the distance, giving up nine hits, striking out four, and walking one; while Jacob Hyde (0-1), who relieved in the third, got the loss. .

Prichard led the Sun Chiefs with a homer and a single (two RBIs).

Graeter paced the Wildcats’ 14-hit attack with a homer and two singles (two RBIs), while Sumrall High products Jake Hawkins and B.J. Smith smacked two doubles and a single each, accounting for two RBIs each. Temple  Harvey of Brandon High doubled and singled (two RBIs), Matt Linton of East Central High had two base hits, and Bryn Whitehead of Sumrall High doubled.

In the first game of the twin bill, starter Patrick Shreve (1-0) got the win in his four innings on the mound, giving up two hits and striking out one, while Wildcat starter Brett Blaise (0-3) got the loss in his four innings of action.

PRCC finished with five hits, led by Harvey with two singles; while Farrar (one RBI) and B.J. Smith (one RBI) drove in runs.

Pearl River returns to action Saturday with a road trip to Central Alabama CC in Andalusia, Ala., for an 11:30 a.m. contest against Wallace-Dothan (Ala.) and a 3 p.m. battle against host CACC. On Wednesday, Feb. 24, PRCC travels to Jackson State University in Jackson to face MACJC non-division foe Coahoma in a 1 p.m. twin bill before returning to Wildcat Stadium to kick off a four-game home stand.

Saturday, Feb. 27, Gulf Coast-Panama City visits, followed by Bevill State (Ala.) Tuesday, March 2; L.B. Wallace (Ala.) Saturday, March 6; and Hibbing (Minn.) Sunday, March 7. All are 2 p.m. doubleheaders.