Advantage PNG: Morse goes distance, Indians take Game 1 from Cubs in regional final

Published 9:28 pm Wednesday, May 31, 2017

HUNTSVILLE — Brandon Morse threw six hitless innings and held Brenham to three hits in a complete-game effort, and Port Neches-Groves took Game 1 of a best-of-three 5A Region III final series, winning 5-3 Wednesday night.

Hayden Guerra broke a 3-all tie in the sixth inning with one-run single with two outs, and Austin Bost with bases loaded to add the insurance run. Guerra finished the game 3 for 5 with a run scored.

Game 2 will start at 6 p.m. Friday, with Game 3 to immediately follow if Brenham wins.

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The Indians jumped ahead 3-0 in the third inning when the top five batters in the order produced four hits. Guerra reached on a bunt, and Logan LeJeune and Austin Bost followed with singles to bring in the first run. Nathan Vidrine delivered a two-out double to drive in two more runs.

Morse ran into trouble in the fourth after keeping Brenham without a hit. Chandler Jozwiak led off with a bloop single and, with one out, Zach Marshall drove him in on a double. Following a pair of walks, Marshall Kohring hit a sacrifice fly and Davion Lockett drove in the tying run on a hit.

Morse struck out three.

Logan LeJeune went 2 for 3 with a double. Austin Bost, Nathan Vidrine, Josh Hranicky, Jacob Vaughan and Morse each had a single.

Jozniak allowed all five earned runs on eight hits and struck out three in 5 2/3 innings. Eric Wellman relieved him and gave up two singles in the seventh and got out of a bases-loaded jam.

A win Friday night will put PNG in the state semifinal round for the first time since 2004. The Indians lost in the state final in 2000.

I.C. Murrell: 721-2435. Twitter: @ICMurrellPANews

About I.C. Murrell

I.C. Murrell was promoted to editor of The News, effective Oct. 14, 2019. He previously served as sports editor since August 2015 and has won or shared eight first-place awards from state newspaper associations and corporations. He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, grew up mostly in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and graduated from the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

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