It should have never gotten to this point, but after blowing a twelve run lead, Alabama Christian found themselves tied 16-16 with St James in the bottom of the seventh inning. After Thomas Stovall reached on an infield single, Zac Westbrook launched the first pitch he saw to center field for the 18-16 victory.
The game was all ACA to start. Trailing 1-0 in the first, the Eagles scored four runs aided by two Trojan errors. Preston Perry and Brandon Bice both drove in a run and two runs scored on an infield error. Alabama Christian scored eight runs in the second frame to build a 12-1 lead. The first three runs of the inning scored on Trojans’ errors. Caden Perry drove in two with a single to left and Zac Westbrook drove in the last two runs of the inning with a double to right. After St James scored three runs in the top of the third, ACA responded with four of their own to take a seemingly commanding 16-4 lead after three.
Preston Perry covers first on a grounder to first.
The second half of the game belonged to the Trojans. St James chipped away at the lead every inning, going through three Eagle relievers, until they were able to tie it 16-16 in the top of the seventh. The final pitcher was Westbrook who allowed four runs in the top of the seventh. To the delight of the crowd, the senior leader was able to redeem himself and deliver the win for the Eagles with his two run blast in the bottom half.
Thomas Stovall bats against the Trojans.
As a team, the offense pounded out 14 hits while drawing six walks with three hit batsmen. Zac Westbrook finished the afternoon 5 for 5 at the plate with three doubles and a homer, driving in six runs. Thomas Stovall picked up two hits with three runs scored while Preston Perry went 2 for 3 with an RBI. Perry started for the Eagles and pitched four innings allowing five earned runs with one strike out.
The Eagles (8-3) host Holtville Tuesday in their next contest.