The Ethel Tigers made quick work of their first-round opponent last week after sweeping Sacred Heart by scores of 10-0 and 14-7. The two wins pushed the Tigers’ record to 21-5 on the year and Friday night’s 10-0 home win over Sacred Heart was Ethel’s 25th straight win at home.
In Friday’s win over the Crusaders from Sacred Heart, Hayden Burns got the start for the Tigers and pitched five innings, yielding only two hits while walking four and striking out 11. The offensive leaders for the Tigers were Tyson Steen with two singles, two doubles, three runs scored and two RBI; Hayden Beall with two singles and two RBI; Burns with two doubles, one run scored and two RBI; Hayes Wood with a single and three runs scored; Alex Schuster with a single, two runs scored and an RBI; Blake Wilkinson with a single; Tanner Reeves with a run scored; Brady Odom with a single and an RBI and Cody Weeks with a single.
In game two on Saturday in Hattiesburg, Wood got the start and win for the Tigers in 4.1 innings pitched, allowing three runs on three hits and two walks while striking out one Crusader. Steen pitched the final 2.2 innings, yielding four runs (none earned) on four hits while walking two. The offensive leaders for the Tigers were Steen with a double, three runs scored and an RBI; Beall with a single, double, one run scored and an RBI; Burns with a single, double, one run scored and two RBI; Schuster with a single, one run scored and an RBI; Odom with a single, double, one run scored and an RBI; Weeks with a single and Cam Campbell with three singles and three runs scored.
The Tigers will host the Salem Wildcats (14-8, 3-1 in Region 7-1A) on Friday night at 7 p.m. and will travel to Salem on Saturday for game two. Game three if necessary will be played in Ethel on Monday night.
