Spring break for the baseball team started at 9:00 am Monday morning at the ball field. Alabama Christian (5-8) played Brighton (TN) in the first game and Hilldale (OK) in game number two. Game one was a nine inning thriller that ACA won 4-3 while game two got away from the Eagles late in a 2-10 loss.
Game one - Brighton
The Eagles struck first and scored three runs in the first two innings. in the first, Mac Moorer and Jackson McGuire got on to start the inning, but it took a two-out single from Jackson Burton to plate the first run of the game. In the bottom half, Moorer and McGuire teamed up again as they got the last out of the inning by throwing a runner out who was attempting to steal home. in the second, after loading the bases with no outs, Bryson Dabney singled in the second run of the day and McGuire knocked in the third run on an RBI fielder’s choice. Meanwhile, Moorer, who got the start on the hill, breezed through the Brighton lineup the fist time around as he faced the minimum of nine batters through the first three innings.
In the fourth inning, Brighton finally scored with the help of two Eagle errors to cut the deficit to one run. The designated home team hoped to score more than two, but Sam Schoeteker made a fabulous catch for the third out in center to end the threat. Neither offense could get any momentum in the fifth and sixth innings and the teams went to the seventh with ACA still clinging to a one-run lead, 3-2.
In the seventh, Bryson Dabney led off the inning being hit by a pitch, but could only get as far as second base. In the bottom half, Brighton put together two hits to tie the game 3-3. Landon Nelson came in with two outs to try to keep it tied. After giving up an infield single, Nelson recorded the third out as the game headed to extra innings. Neither offense put anyone on base in the eighth and the ninth started that way for the Eagles. The first two batters in the inning struck out, but the next three reached safely to put Alabama Christian ahead. Dabney was hit for the second time in the game followed by a walk from Mac Moorer. Jackson McGuire delivered the game winning single to center on an 0-2 count to give ACA the lead. Nelson closed the door in the bottom half and the Eagles walked away with a thrilling win to start the day.
Jackson McGuire led the offense with a 2 for 5 day with two runs driven in while Teilan Long went 2 for 4 in the opener. Jackson Burton and Bryson Dabney both had a hit and an RBI. Landon Nelson picked up the win with 2 1/3 innings of relief work with two strikeouts. Starter Mac Moorer, who pitched well enough to win, lasted 6 2/3 innings while striking out four and allowing just two earned runs.
Game two - Hilldale
ACA scored first in game two as well, but that was the highlight of the second game. Grant Cornette knocked in Mac Moorer with an RBI ground out to take an early 1-0 lead. ACA loaded the bases in the second, but was unable to push across a run. The Hilldale bats came alive in the third as they scored four in the frame for a three-run advantage. Trailing 5-1 in the sixth, the Eagles loaded the bases again and scored their second run when Moorer was hit by pitch, but three runs down would be as close as they would get. Hilldale doubled their score as they scored five in the sixth to end it by a final score of 10-2.
The offense mustered just three singles from Grant Cornette, Telian Long, and Cam Sutton although they were hit by pitch five times and drew two walks. Cornette and Mac Moorer drove in the two runs. Cam Sutton got the loss as he gave up five earned runs in five innings while striking out three. Long made his debut on the mound for the varsity as he pitched to the last two hitters of the game.
