Eagles win pair at Cliburn

Published 12:00 am Friday, March 6, 2009

Hinds Community College coach Sam Temple has been hoping that his squad would finally get battle tested in a tight game after winning a series of routs.

He finally got his wish on Thursday, as the Eagles rallied to beat Coahoma 5-3 in their second game of the Wes Cliburn Tournament with a four-run sixth inning.

“We’ve played the first month and a half of our season to prepare for district play,” Temple said. “A game that has that much tension where we have to fight back at the end and believe we can win the ballgame is what we’ve talked about from day one. I’m really proud of our guys that they knew all we had to was string a couple of hits together.”

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The Tigers jumped out front in the second, as Hinds starter Conner Butts gave up a two-out single to Terrell Jones and shortstop Davarian Ursin took advantage, crushing an 0-1 offering over the centerfield fence to put Coahoma out front 2-0.

Hinds (11-5) managed to do some damage against Coahoma ace Jansel Encarncion, as Jason Hicks roughed him up with a two-out double and Kyle Tabor singled Hicks to third. A walk to Ryan Nance loaded the bases. But Encarncion, under the eyes of some Major League scouts, induced an easy forceout to quell the threat.

Encarncion, who had a nasty slider in addition to a moving, hard fastball, kept the Eagles off-balance for much of the contest. He took the loss despite six innings of solid work.

“I knew beforehand that we were going to have our hands full,” Temple said of Encarncion. “He definitely lived up to the bill. A good fastball, but he kept us off-balance with a good breaking ball. My guys had a tough time of picking it up and seeing that spin and if my guys are not picking it up, it’s a pretty good pitch.”

Hinds cut the lead to one run in the third as Shane Bennett drove in Mark Buchanan off a single.

Coahoma got on the board again in the fifth as Travis Webster drove in the speedy Ursin, who doubled to start off the frame, to put the Tigers up 3-1.

But it was in the sixth when the Eagles finally caught up to Encarncion. Zach Polzin walked and Nick Schneeberger doubled him home to start the rally. Hicks drove in Schneeberger off a double, Josh Clarke plated the go-ahead run off a single and Buchanan drove in another off a fielder’s choice.

Nance, who relieved Butts in the fifth, earned the win in 2 2/3 innings of work, allowing two hits. Closer Derek Casola earned the save in the seventh for Hinds (11-5).

Hinds 14, East Miss. 1

Brandon Benton crushed a grand slam to ignite an 11-run third inning as the Eagles run-ruled East Mississippi in four innings. Polzin homered and doubled for Hinds. 

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Contact Steve Wilson at swilson@vicksburg.com