FULTON — Pearl River Community College kept its repeat hopesfor a Region XXIII title alive here Saturday afternoon with a 7-6victory over Copiah-Lincoln in the regional tournament underway atItawamba Community College. The Wildcats (39-12) rebounded from an11-inning loss to Itawamba.

Co-Lin was unable to recover from a 3-0 Friday loss toNorthwest.

After dropping Northwest 10-3 in opening round action, PRCC fellinto the losers’ bracket with Friday’s heartbreaking 7-6 loss toICC, but rebounded with its one-run win over the Wolves. TheWildcats took on ICC again Saturday night and faced a must-winsituation. The championship round is set to begin at 1 p.m. Sunday.If an additional game is needed, it will start at 4 p.m.

Rhyne Hughes bashed two home runs and a single to pace PRCC’seight-hit effort, while Derek Underwood doubled and Justin Laxsonhad a pair of singles.

“Four of the seven runs they scored were from walks,” saidCo-Lin coach Keith Case. “We had our chances but we were unable tocapitalize.”

Co-Lin, which wrapped up its season at 20-28 with the loss,finished with nine hits, led by second baseman Cayce Wallace’s twotriples and a two-run homer by centerfielder Paris Dancy. ShortstopAaron Guillot doubled. Catcher Chase Coley had 2 hits. AaronOberschmidt and Jeffrey Waycaster singled for Co-Lin.

Winning pitcher Jeff Middleton (9-1) started and went 7.2innings. He struck out 2 batters and walked 2.

Freshman Cass Brister (3-3) was the losing pitcher, lasting 2innings. He struck out 1 batter and walked 1.

Mitch Mangum relieved Brister and lasted 2.2 innings. LanceDeville replaced Mangum in the sixth.

Northwest 3, Co-Lin 0

Sophomore Puerto Rican pitcher Jesus Albino overcame a slowstart to handle the Wolves. He had a no-hitter into the eighthinning and finished with a 3-hitter.

“(Albino) didn’t give us a chance to get in our offense,” saidCase. “You have to score to make something happen.”

Albino (3-1) fanned 7 batters and walked 2.

Co-Lin sophomore pitcher Kendall Poole was replaced by ThomasGarland in the bottom of the fourth after facing 3 batters. Poole(6-7) gave up 2 runs on 7 hits, striking out 4 and walkingnone.

Offensively, Dancy, Coley and Wallace singled for Co-Lin. TheWolves left 6 runners on base.

Northwest got 3 hits from rightfielder Brad Burkhead. Thirdbaseman J.B. Fesmire and second baseman Adam Friga had 2 hits.