[3/16/03]Once Porters Chapel Academy got its timing down, it rolled to a victory in its conference opener on Saturday.

PCA (7-2, 1-0 Conference 5-A) scored 11 runs in the final three innings against Sharkey-Issaquena (0-3) to claim an 11-1, mercy-rule shortened win.

The game was scoreless until the third, when SIA broke through for a run in the top of the inning. PCA was kept off-balance in the first two innings by SIA’s pitching, but the Eagles exploded for four runs in the bottom of the third to take the lead for good.

PCA added three runs in the fourth and then four more in the fifth to end the game.

“After we went through the lineup one time, we got the timing down and then we were OK,” PCA coach Randy Wright said.

Chase Towne led the way for the Eagles, going 3-for-4 with a double, RBI, two stolen bases and two runs scored. Andrew Embry added a double and scored two runs, Ryan Hoben was 2-for-3 with two RBIs, Aaron Curry had a double and two RBIs, and Wes Massey was 2-for-3. Josh Rush and Chip Lofton also had RBI singles for the Eagles.

Joseph Ivey (2-0) allowed three hits and three walks while striking out five in five innings to earn the win.

PCA will host defending Academy-A state champion Deer Creek Monday at 6 p.m. in another conference game.