Southwest Mississippi’s baseball team started the season with a 3-2 victory in 11 innings against Baton Rouge Community College. The game was a defensive battle, with Southwest leading 2-0 until Baton Rouge tied it in the ninth inning.
The Bears used nine pitchers, allowing only two hits through eight innings. Wyatt Garrett pitched three innings in relief, holding Baton Rouge scoreless after the ninth inning. Garrett also pitched in extra innings, keeping the game tied until the bottom of the 11th.
In the 11th, leadoff hitter Tanner Moore reached base on a bunt single. He stole second and advanced to third on a sacrifice fly by Cam Bolden. With a runner on third, Justin Domiano hit a ground ball to shortstop, reaching first and allowing Moore to score the winning run.
Head coach Jack Edmonson praised his team’s resilience and pitching. “We were up all night and Baton Rouge scored two in the ninth to tie it. We did a good job of staying in the moment and making plays when needed,” he said. “Justin Domiano’s game-winning hit finally broke through for us.”
Southwest will play on the road Tuesday against Belhaven University in Jackson, marking the team’s next step in the season.
