By Brad Greer

Two future college teammates faced off Tuesday night as Tupelo’s Chris Stratton and South Panola’s Ethan Bright, both Mississippi St. signees, locked up in a old-fashion pitchers’ duel in a Region 2-5A clash in Tupelo.

 Both hurlers were on top of their game throughout the contest but in the end it was the No. 3 ranked Golden Wave that squeaked across a run in the bottom of the sixth to escape with a 1-0 victory.

  Stratton, who blanked the Tigers 10-0 in their first meeting on March 3, gave up two hits and struck out 11 while going the distance to garner the win. Bright meanwhile was equally effective by going 5.1 innings, fanning three while walking four and giving up three hits. David Renfroe relieved Bright in the bottom of the sixth and the Tigers out of a bases loaded one-out jam, by striking out a batter and getting another on a groundout to retire the side.

Renfroe’s double and a Whit Whitten single were the only hits off Stratton. South Panola stranded seven runners on the basepaths on the night.

The Tigers hosted Columbus last night in a key region matchup. South Panola will entertain Water Valley tomorrow starting with JV at 2 p.m followed by the varsity at 4.