TUNICA – Randy Wright surveyed the short 325-foot center field fence at the Tunica Institute’s baseball field, then felt the stiff breeze blowing into his face from the Delta.

With a bit of disappointment in his voice, he remarked that the wind would probably keep his Porters Chapel Eagles from hitting any home runs on the tiny field.

He was correct. The Eagles didn’t hit any home runs on Tuesday. It was just about the only thing they failed to do.

PCA cranked out 15 hits – 12 of them singles – and got another outstanding pitching performance from sophomore Matt Cranfield to dispatch defending Academy A state champion Tunica Institute, 13-1.

Chris Mixon led the offensive onslaught by going 3-for-3 with a triple, three RBIs and two runs scored. Dan Ivey was 2-for-4 with a pair of singles and three RBIs, and Moose Carney and Robbie Simms drove in two runs apiece.

The win gave PCA a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three MPSA Class A playoff series. It can complete the sweep of Tunica at home on Thursday.

&#8220Going on the road and beating the defending state champions is always nice. We’re always pleased to get a good, convincing win like this,” Wright said. &#8220I thought we played well and set the tone for the series, but we know we still have a battle on our hands.”

While the Eagles were finding every nook and cranny of the outfield when they hit, Cranfield, nicknamed Cranny, gave his outfielders a day off. He struck out 11 batters in the five-inning, mercy-rule shortened game, and did not get a fly ball out. The only ball Tunica (15-4) got out of the infield was its only hit, a single by Kaleb Brown in the bottom of the fourth inning.

&#8220It kind of upset me a little bit,” Cranfield said of Brown’s hit. &#8220I had to throw it over the middle, because (the count) was 2-0.”

Tunica’s only run came in the second, when Cranfield surrendered one of his two walks to Heath Cariker. The Tunica catcher stole second, then stole third and scored on a dropped third strike. By then, the Blue Devils were already playing catch-up.

PCA (21-8-1) jumped in front with three runs in the top of the first, then blew the game open with three more in the third. Mixon led off the third inning with a triple and scored on Carney’s sacrifice fly. Hayden Hales and Cranfield then reached on singles, and both scored when Tunica right fielder Walker James misplayed a base hit by Brady Towne.

&#8220Probably toward the end of the third inning, everybody started to get their heads down and Porters Chapel was into the game,” Cariker said of the Blue Devils. &#8220We just couldn’t hang with them.”

PCA salted the game away by batting around and scoring five runs in the fourth inning. Mixon and Simms each had a two-run single during the rally, which put the Eagles ahead 11-1. They added two more runs in the fifth on a single by Ivey and Cranfield retired the side in order in the bottom of the inning to end the game by the mercy rule.

It was the second straight playoff game PCA has won by the mercy rule, and the third straight in which it has scored at least 10 runs. In three playoff games so far, the Eagles have scored 38 runs and amassed 39 hits.

&#8220We’ve played well here the last couple of weeks,” Wright said. &#8220We’re motivated and things have gone our way here lately. We just have to keep it rolling.”