Pearl River signee J.T. Schnoor turns in a gem as Resurrection beats Biggersville in Class 1A Baseball Championship series opener

PEARL — J.T. Schnoor just refused to lose.

Behind the Pearl River CC signee and thanks to some timely hitting, Resurrection Catholic got past Biggersville 3-1 in Game 1 of the MHSAA Class 1A Baseball State Championship series at Trustmark Park Tuesday afternoon.

Game 2 of the series is scheduled for 1 p.m. Thursday.

“J.T. didn’t have his best stuff today, but he gutted it out,” said Resurrection coach Johnny Olsen. “We came in and didn’t know a bunch about Biggersville, but they are a good bunch, and they swing the bat really well.”

The Eagles got on the board first to take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third as Walker Frederic had an RBI single to right center.

Biggersville tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the fourth as Tre Gunn scored on a throwing error.

Resurrection responded with two runs in the bottom of the fifth as Max Askew scored on a throwing error and Joe Scarborough had an RBI single to right center to give the Eagles the 3-1 lead.

Biggersville did have the bases loaded with one out in the sixth, but Schnoor got a strikeout and a groundout to get out of the inning.

Askew had two hits, including a double, and Walker Frederic had two hits to lead Resurrection (32-5) offensively.

“We’ve been swinging the bats really well in the playoffs. Today got timely hits when needed them and we were swinging at bad pitches early,” Olsen said. “We will come back Thursday playing like we lost Game 1 and have a better approach at the plate.”

Schnoor (7-1) tossed a complete game scattering five hits, one run, walked one and struck out five.

“I just tried to stay in the strike zone and my pitch count stayed down, but I didn’t have my best stuff and my velo wasn’t there,” Schnoor said. “We didn’t hit the ball well today, but got the hits when we needed and proud to get the win.”

Drew Rowsey (8-2) took the loss on the mound for Biggersville. Gunn had three hits to lead the Lions (25-6).

“They out hit us and had opportunities to tie the game or take lead and didn’t get the big hit,” said Biggersville coach Daniel Rowsey. “Schnoor is a really good pitcher and we now have to do our best to force a Game 3.”