Although the Eagles have played fifteen games entering the contest against PCA, the season really started Thursday afternoon in game one of the Area series against the Panthers. Over the next two weeks, four teams in class 3A Area 6 will compete for two playoff spots. The other teams, MA and St James, also started a series against each other on Thursday.
Both teams had been off for at least a week after spring break, but ACA came out lifeless and PCA jumped out to an early lead. The Panthers scored one in the top of the first on an RBI groundout. In the bottom half, Alabama Christian had two runners in scoring position but failed to produce the run-producing hit. ACA would eventually leave nine runners on base through the game. After PCA scored their second run on a bases-loaded walk, the number nine hitter launched a grand slam to make the score 6-0 and effectively secured the outcome after just an inning and a half.
PCA added three more in the fifth for a 9-0 advantage. The Eagles finally crossed the plate in the fifth as Hayes Hunt and Mac Moorer hit back-to-back doubles. ACA scored a second run in the sixth but never mounted a real threat. In the seventh, trailing 10-2, the Eagles scored twice as the Panthers gladly traded runs for outs.
Hayes Hunt and Mac Moorer led the offense with two hits apiece as each drove in a run. Hunt took the loss on the mound with three strikeouts over five innings. Jackson McGuire pitched two effective innings in relief to end the game with two strikeouts.
Games two and three of the series will be played on Friday at PCA.