PEARL — Friday’s game against Pearl wasn’t so much a blowout as it was a process for the Vicksburg Gators.

They gave away a couple of runs early and fell behind. Then, as the Pirates steadily added to the lead, the Gators didn’t do enough to keep up. The end result was a 10-0 loss that sent them into Easter weekend on a sour note.

Michael Westerfield doubled and scored twice, and Joseph Robertson went 2-for-4 with two RBIs for Pearl (12-5).

Vicksburg (3-13) committed four errors and only had two hits.

“I thought we played well. Chris (Farrish) pitched well today. The biggest thing is, when we get runners in scoring position we’ve got to score some runs. It takes the pressure off our defense, it takes the pressure off our pitcher. As the game goes on and they look up and don’t see any runs on the scoreboard, you start to make mistakes,” Vicksburg coach Derrick DeWald said.

Pearl’s first two runs were unearned, thanks to an error and a passed ball. Tylan Knight drove in a run with a fielder’s choice, and Brandon Stensaas added an RBI single as the Pirates crept out to a 4-0 lead after two innings.

They added another run in the fourth and three in the fifth — one of which scored on an error — before closing it out via the mercy rule in the bottom of the sixth.

Vicksburg had a chance to score in the second inning, with runners at first and third with two outs. Ryan Thompson was picked off first to end the inning, however. Another runner was caught stealing second in the third inning.

“Stuff like that kills the momentum we created right there,” DeWald said.

When the dust settled, DeWald said he was more disappointed with the Gators’ inability to cash in on scoring threats than the loss. Keeping the score close and pressure on opponents, he said, will eventually lead to some victories.

“I like where we’re headed. We just have to improve on hitting with runners in scoring position. I think that will go a long way for our team this year,” DeWald said. “That’s an area we have to improve in dramatically, if we’re going to make strides and be a club that can compete in the playoffs and so forth.”

 

Germantown 8, WC 6

Germantown rallied for three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to hand Warren Central (13-7) its third loss in four games.

Warren Central took a 6-5 lead in the top of the sixth, as Landan Stewart scored on a wild pitch and Alan Kivett scored on Vantrel Reed’s sacrifice fly.

Germantown loaded the bases in the bottom half, however, on two singles and a botched fielder’s choice. Connor Carter then worked a 10-pitch walk to bring in the tying run. Benjamin Bell scored the go-ahead-run on a wild pitch, and another bases-loaded walk brought in Carson Fisher to make it 8-6.

Warren Central loaded the bases with one out in the top of the seventh, but Germantown pitcher Blake Dilmore got a strikeout and a fly ball to center to end a wild game that featured six lead changes.

Matt Corder went 2-for-3 with a double, three RBIs and two runs scored for Germantown (14-3), and Austin Lee drove in two runs.

Reed doubled, drove in two runs and scored another for Warren Central. D.J. Lewis was 3-for-4 with a run scored, while Kivett had two hits and scored one run.

Warren Central will host Central Hinds Monday at 7 p.m.