Madison-Ridgeland Academy broke open a close game with five runs in the top of the fourth inning to cruise to a 12-5 victory over Pillow Academy Tuesday evening at PA’s Louis Coleman Field.
The Mustangs drop to 2-1 overall, 0-1 in the North AAA standings.
Pillow got a big day at the plate from sophomore Cole Whitfield, who finished 2 for 3 with a pair of doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored.
MRA, expected to be one of the top teams in all of AAA this season, led 2-0 after two innings and then went up 5-0 in the top of the third when a bases-loaded walk for Austin Dillon started the scoring for the Patriots.
The Mustangs then reeled off four runs in the bottom of the frame to pull within one.
A groundout by Jay Smith brought in PA’s first run. That was followed by a two-run double by Whitfield, and an RBI double by Justin Perkins.
MRA starter Trammell Martin finally got Jacob Garrard to fly out to end the threat.
MRA began to pull away in the fourth with five runs, followed by one run in the fifth and another in the seventh.
Pillow’s only other run came in the sixth on a groundout by Garrard.
Perkins was the losing pitcher as he allowed nine runs, eight of which were earned, on 13 hits while striking out two and walking three in 32/3 innings of work.
Smith worked the next 11/3 innings, giving up one run on one hit.
Lawson Tharpe pitched the final two innings, allowing one run on two hits with a pair of strikeouts and no walks.
MRA finished with 13 hits, compared to seven for the Mustangs.
Perkins finished with two hits, while Tharpe, Garrard and Harris Fondren each had one hit.
PA plays a doubleheader at MRA on Thursday.
