PANAMA CITY, Fla. — The No. 5 Pearl River baseball team pitched it well all day long Sunday at the Visit Panama City Beach College Baseball Classic, shutting out Dyersburg State 5-0 to finish the weekend 3-1.

"What a good trip to Panama City," head coach Michael Avalon said. "We played against four quality Division I opponents and are thankful to be 3-1. We still have some work to do, but it is a good start to the season.

"We still have to get better offensively. We've got a young lineup. They have to learn that you've got to be starving instead of hungry. That's what it takes at this level."

The Wildcat pitchers struck out 13 batters and allowed just two hits across seven innings against the Eagles to get the shutout.

"Our pitchers have been the guys carrying us," Avalon said. "They were really good today and we have a lot of depth at the position."

One night after closing things out for Pearl River (3-1 overall), Mississippi State transfer Max Miller (Vancleave) was handed the ball as the starting pitcher against Dyersburg State (2-2) — and the left-hander was spectacular.

Over the course of three innings, Miller allowed just one baserunner by way of a walk. He did not allow a hit or a run and struck out six Eagles. The Wildcat offense gave Miller a pair of runs to work with in the bottom of the first inning. Kyler King (Picayune) walked, and Jaxon Milam (Phenix City, Ala.; Glenwood Academy) followed with a single. Both runners advanced a base on the throw back into the infield. Topher Jones (Hernando) brought home the first run with an RBI double, and Caston Thompson (Jayess; Brookhaven Academy) drove a sacrifice fly into the outfield for the second run of the frame.

Miller gave way to freshman Colin Jenkins (Mt. Olive; Simpson Academy) to begin the fourth frame, and Jenkins was just as electric. The right-hander tossed three scoreless frames, allowing just one hit and striking out six batters of his own. Second baseman Keegan Giger (Petal) aided his efforts with a stellar defensive play in the top of the fourth, ranging deep into the hole and nearly throwing a ball from left field to beat a runner at first base.

PRCC added an important insurance run for Jenkins in the bottom of the fifth. Giger got it started by sending a pitch right back where it came from for a single. He swiped second base to get into scoring position. The Wildcats called on pinch-hitter Logan Fontenelle (Biloxi). Eager to hit, Fontenelle was first pitch swinging and sent an RBI single into left field, 3-0.

Pearl River plated two more runs in the sixth inning. Conner Dyess (Carriere; Pearl River Central) provided a pinch-hit single to open the frame and stole second base. Giger chopped his second hit of the day back up the middle to drive him in, 4-0. Nico Williams (Gulfport) moved Giger to third by ripping a single into center field, and Fontenelle drove him in with a groundout, 5-0.

Landon Watts (Picayune) made his debut in the seventh and closed things down to secure the shutout victory.

LEADING THE WAY
Miller threw three no-hit innings to open the game, striking out six batters and allowing one run along the way. Jenkins followed up with three innings of one-hit baseball and six strikeouts. Watts recorded one strikeout and allowed one hit in his lone inning of work.

Milam finished 3-for-4 at the plate with one run scored. He doubled once. Giger was the only other Wildcat with multiple hits, going 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI. 

"I like it when Giger plays like that," Avalon said. "He had two base hits up the middle. He wasn't trying to do too much. That's what makes him a really good player."

Fontenelle drove in a pair of runs, going 1-for-2.

NEXT UP
The Wildcats will play their first games at Dub Herring Park this season on Friday as Baton Rouge comes to Poplarville for a 2 p.m. doubleheader. 

TICKETS
Season and single-game tickets are on sale now at PRCCAthletics.com/Tickets. Season passes are $88 and single-game tickets are $8 if purchased in advance or $10 if purchased on the day of the game.

TUNE IN
The Wildcats will once again livestream all games for free at PRCCMedia.com/gold. Fans who have Roku, Amazon Fire or Apple TV devices can also watch the Wildcat broadcasts by downloading the "Pearl River CC" channel from their app stores.   

Games can also be heard at WRJW 1320-AM, 106.9 FM and WRJWRadio.com.

For the latest on Pearl River Community College athletics, follow us on X (@PRCCAthletics) and Facebook (PRCCAthletics).