The Ethel Tiger baseball team advanced in the Class 1A State Playoffs with a two-game sweep of the West Lowndes Panthers (5-10) to improve to 18-5 overall. The Tigers beat back the Panthers in Ethel by a score of 4-2 and won easily on the road by a score of 14-5.
Blake McKinley got the start for the Tigers in game one and pitched five innings, allowing two hits and two runs while striking out 12. Hayes Wood pitched the final two innings and surrendered no runs or hits while striking out three Panther hitters. John Morgan Cummins, Tyson Steen and McKinley each had extra base hits along with a Chase Walters single.
In game two the hits came a lot easier as the Tigers pounded out 11 hits in the contest. Multiple hits by Alex Schuster, Cody Weeks and Walters led the way followed by McKinley, Wood, Cummins, Steen and Daquan Mallett with RBI singles in the game. Wood got the start for the Tigers and pitched 2.2 innings, allowing three hits, five runs (two earned) and three walks while striking out four. Steen pitched the final 3.1 innings of the contest and allowed one hit and one walk while striking out six.
“I was pleased with how we hit the ball in game two, but we will have to play much better against Sacred Heart,” said Ethel head coach Chris Schuster. “We have been playing really well defensively and hopefully our offense will continue to find its rhythm.”
The Tigers will be traveling to Sacred Heart (Hattiesburg) for a second round match up with the Crusaders on Friday at 7 p.m. The Crusaders, who won Region 8-1A with a 6-2 mark, are 10-8 overall. Game two will be in Ethel on Saturday at 7 p.m. and game three, if necessary, will be back in Hattiesburg on Monday at 7 p.m.
