The Brookhaven Brakemen rebounded from an opening game setbackto gain a Cotton State League split with the Clinton LumberjacksSunday afternoon on the sweat-soaked Brookhaven Academy diamond.Clinton rallied to win the opener 7-3 and Brookhaven won thenightcap 3-2.

The Brakemen (5-7, 13-18) host Poplarville for a doubleheadertoday, starting at 4:30. Hattiesburg visits Tuesday for a singlegame, starting at 6:30.

Brookhaven, under the direction of field manager Pete Young,plays at Poplarville Wednesday night as the CSL seasonconcludes.

Clinton 7, Brookhaven 3

Michael Walton started on the mound for Clinton and got the win.In 5.2 innings, the southpaw gave up 3 hits, 3 runs, fanned 5,walked 6 and hit 1 batter in the 6-inning game.

Michael Wakefield, like Walton an Ole Miss pitcher, struck outthe last batter as Brookhaven left 2 runners on base.

Designated hitter Louis Bradford and leftfielder Wade Whitakerhad 2 hits for the Lumberjacks.

At the plate, Brookhaven’s Josh Thoms and Cayce Wallace singled.Thoms had an RBI single in the 2-run first inning. BrandonHubbard’s sacrifice fly scored Jeffrey Waycaster who hadwalked.

Brakemen hurler Lance Deville started on the mound and went 5innings. He gave up 3 runs on 5 hits, striking out 2, walking 2 andhitting 1 batter.

Jacob Leggett replaced Deville in the top of the sixth and couldhave sued for lack of support. His teammates committed 3 errors. Hegave up 4 runs, only 1 earned run; 3 hits, fanned 1 and walked1.

Brookhaven 3, Clinton 2

Josh Garrett went the distance for the Brakemen. Theright-hander from Lawrence County, by way of Co-Lin and Belhaven,gave up 2 runs on 3 hits, struck out 4 and walked 6.

Brookhaven’s Joey Sullivan hit a solo homer in the bottom of thethird to end a scoreless duel. He and Josh Thoms each had 2 hitsfor Brookhaven.

First baseman Seth Lofton and catcher Jeb Lee had the otherBrookhaven hits.

In the fourth, Lofton reached on an error and scored on afielding error, making it 2-0.

In the fifth, Sullivan led off with a single. Waycaster advancedSullivan with a sacrifice bunt. Thoms delivered an RBI double andit was 3-0.

Clinton rallied for two runs in the top of the seventh. With oneout, Garrett walked 3 straight batters. Mario Thomas hit a 2 RBIsingle and it was 3-2.

Garrett fanned Dickinson for the second out. Whitaker, the nextbatter, hit a grounder to shortstop. Thomas blocked Wallace’s viewon the play. Thomas was called out by the umpire for runnerinterference and the game ended.

Southpaw Brad Tassin went the distance for Clinton. In 6innings, Tassin gave up 3 runs on 6 hits, struck out 2 and walked1.