The Eagles (1-1) opened the home season with a 15-6 defeat of Catholic. The game was tied 6-6 when ACA exploded for nine runs in the bottom of the sixth to secure the win.
Mac Moorer started for the home team and set the Knights down 1-2-3 in the first. The offense wasted no time getting on the board as they pushed across three runs in the bottom half. The first run scored on a Landon Nelson sac fly followed by a two-run missile over the left field wall by Jackson Burton. After a scoreless second, Catholic got on the board with five runs in the third to take a 5-3 lead. Alabama Christian got one back in the bottom half as Burton drove in Nelson on an infield ground out.
Jackson McGuire relieved the starter in the fourth inning and promptly sat down the Knight’s 2, 3, and 4 hitters as he struck out the side. In the bottom of the fourth, Mac Moorer was hit by pitch with the bases loaded to tie the score and a Grant Cornette sac fly gave the Eagles a one-run lead. The Knights scored one in the fifth to tie it back up. McGuire did not allow a run in the sixth to leave the game tied heading into the big inning for ACA.
With one out in the sixth, ACA strung together three consecutive singles to load the bases. Jackson McGuire hit a sac fly to left, for the second out, to give the Eagles the lead. After that out, Catholic pitching put the next five batters on by a walk or hit batsman which gave the home team an 11-6 advantage. Grant Cornette then doubled down the left field line to drive in two more followed by a Landon Nelson two-bagger that drove in another two for a 15-6 lead. Eight men reached base safely between the second and third outs in the frame. McGuire came back out in the seventh and finished off the night with a strikeout.
Jackson McGuire picked up the win in relief as he gave up just one run over four innings while striking out six and walking one. The junior also helped himself at the plate with the game winning sac fly in the sixth. Landon Nelson and Jackson Burton led the offense as both players finished 3 for 4 with three RBI’s and two runs scored. Grant Cornette finished 2 for 3 with a double, three runs driven in and three runs scored while Mac Moorer was 2 for 3 with two ribbies and two runs scored. Cam Sutton continued to get on base by any means necessary as he was hit two more times in the game. The sophomore has reached base safely in six out of seven plate appearances without a hit.
ACA will be back at home on Thursday as they take on Tallassee.