BRANDON - Gulfport senior right-hander Josh Lee navigated some bad weather early in the game to pick up a complete-game win at Brandon Tuesday night to lead the Admirals to a 5-2 win and a 1-0 series lead in the MHSAA 6A Playoffs. 

The game featured two of the best arms in Mississippi in Lee (a Southeastern Louisiana commit) and Brandon left-hander Walker Hooks who is committed to Ole Miss. 

The difference proved to be Gulfport junior shortstop Ethan Surowiec who blasted a three-run homerun in the sixth inning that erased a 2-0 Brandon lead and gave Gulfport the 3-2 advantage. Two more Admiral runs in the inning provided the final 5-2 margin. 

Lee lasted seven innings and allowed two earned runs on four hits with six strikeouts and a walk. 

Hooks dominated for five scoreless innings before Gulfport plated five runs in the sixth. He gave up four earned runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings with eight strikeouts and a walk. 

Brandon seniors Braden Smith and K.K. Clark each had an RBI for the Bulldogs. Clark singled home a run in the first inning for the early 1-0 lead and Smith hit a solo bomb in the fourth for a 2-0 edge.

The win improved Gulfport's record to 20-9 and dropped Brandon to 23-7 this season. The two teams will meet again Friday night in Gulfport. 

   

Tags