PULASKI, Tenn. – Tennessee Southern opened its Southern States Athletic Conference weekend series with a 10–0 shutout victory over Point on Friday evening at Bobby Walker Field, powered by a dominant start on the mound and a balanced offensive attack.
The Firehawks wasted little time getting on the board in the first inning. Evan Nelson worked a leadoff walk, stole second, and came around to score on a sacrifice fly from Cooper Phillips to give Tennessee Southern an early 1–0 lead.
Tennessee Southern broke the game open in the second. Gage Beckner singled and quickly made an impact on the basepaths, advancing and scoring as Masato Mizumori reached on a fielder's choice. Nelson followed with a sacrifice fly to bring in another run, and Zac Wilson added a sacrifice fly of his own to extend the lead to 4–0.
The Firehawks added another run in the third when Carson Foote worked a walk and later scored on a wild pitch to push the advantage to 5–0.
Tennessee Southern continued to apply pressure in the fourth inning. Anthony Pastrana drew a walk and stole second before Wilson delivered a single to put runners on the corners. Phillips followed with an RBI single, and a defensive miscue on a sacrifice bunt allowed another run to score. Beckner capped the inning with a sacrifice fly as the Firehawks stretched the lead to 8–0.
The Firehawks walked off the win in the eighth inning. Devin Thrain doubled down the left-field line and later scored on an error, and Mizumori followed with an RBI single to extend the margin to 10–0.
On the mound, Jay Davis turned in a quality start, controlling the game from the outset. Davis worked 6.2 shutout innings, allowing just five hits while striking out seven to earn the win. He consistently worked out of traffic and kept Point off the scoreboard, setting the tone for the Firehawks. Jackson Moon closed out the final 1.1 innings to complete the shutout.
Nelson scored a run and drove in a run while reaching base twice and swiping a bag. Pastrana reached base three times, added a hit, and stole a base. Wilson collected two hits and an RBI, while Phillips drove in two runs. Beckner finished with two hits, an RBI, and three stolen bases, and Thrain added a double and reached base multiple times. Mizumori recorded two hits and drove in two runs, and Foote scored three times and reached base twice.
Tennessee Southern continues the series Saturday, March 28, concluding the weekend set with Point at Bobby Walker Field.
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