WESSON – The Wesson Cobras defeated the Perry Central Bulldogs 11-4 Monday night to advance to the second round of the Class 3A state baseball playoffs.

“This was a great win for our guys,” said Wesson coach Seth Lofton. “The guys came out ready to play and we performed really well offensively and defensively. Overall, I am really proud of the guys’ efforts.”

In Saturday’s game with Perry Central, the Cobras rallied back to tie the best-of-three series at 1-1 with an 11-3 victory.

The Cobras (18-5) will host Morton Friday and travel to Morton for the second game on Saturday. Game time has not been set.

Wesson 11, Perry Central 4

Trailing 2-1, Wesson’s offense came to life in the third inning. They clobbered the Bulldogs with a six-run explosion to take a 7-2 lead. The Cobras continued to overpower the Bulldogs in the fourth and fifth innings, adding four more runs to push their lead to 11-2.

Perry Central would score its final two runs in the sixth inning, but it wasn’t enough as Wesson prevailed 11-4.

Peyton Burns was the winning pitcher for the Cobras with five strikeouts and three walks in five innings of work. Preston Middleton (2K, 0BB) also pitched in relief.

Dustin Lloyd pitched the loss for Perry Central with five strikeouts and one walks.

Middleton directed the Cobras with a triple and a single. Alex Mooney and Jimmie McQuage provided two singles apiece. Will Hulon had a double.

Noah Hillman led the Bulldogs at the plate with a double. Nate Hartfield, Hayden Cooley, Jason Cowart, Brantley Pipkins, Dustin Lloyd and Jessie Meeler had a single each.

Wesson 11, Perry Central 3

Tied 3-3, the Cobras exploded with a seven-run surge in the top of the sixth inning to take control of the contest. They were helped by a bases-loaded walk to Alex Mooney, a two-run double by Jimmie McQuage, an RBI single by Preston Middleton, a two-run single by Bolon Tadlock and a sacrifice fly by Peyton Burns.

Wesson would add on one more run in the seventh inning and held for the victory.

Alex Mooney was the winning pitcher for the Cobras with seven strikeouts and five walks in six innings of work. Peyton Burns (0K, 0BB) pitched the final inning in relief.

Perry Central used a three-man rotation in the loss. Kevin Lindsey (1K, 4BB) started for the Bulldogs. Jessie Meeler (0K, 4BB) and Brantley Pipkins (0K, 0BB) saw action in relief.

Max Daughdrill powered the Cobras with two doubles and a single. Jimmie McQuage contributed a double and two singles. Bolon Tadlock provided two singles. Hitting safely were Preston Middleton and Will Hulon

Dustin Lloyd paced the Bulldogs with a double and a single. Meeler had a double and Hayden Cooley hit a single.