Hinds Community College is just one win away from its second title in three years.

The Eagles exploded for 14 runs with two outs in the sixth inning to claim a 16-5 win over host Itawamba Community College on Friday.

The Eagles have already qualifed for the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament at LSU-Eunice and will play the winner of Gulf Coast and Itawamba on Saturday at 2 p.m. The winner of Friday night’s other semifinal between Gulf Coast and Itawamba will have to beat Hinds twice on Saturday to claim the state title.

Down 1-0 in the sixth, Hinds brought the bats in a big way. Sophomore Daniel Gilbert started off the onslaught with an RBI single. The bases loaded for Kiko Thompson and former Warren Central standout Beau Wallace, who both drove in runs with bases-loaded walks.

Tyler Akins cashed in with a two-RBI double to extend the lead to 5-1. A Justin Smith single scored two more. Former St. Aloysius standout Ryno Martin-Nez added to the scoreboard with a RBI single. Akins, in his second at-bat in the inning, ripped a two-RBI single.

A pair of errors allowed the final two runs to score.

Carey Taylor earn the win for Hinds.