ACA started Area play in a best two of three game series against St James on Thursday afternoon. Game one was played at St James while games two and three will be Friday at ACA’s home field. Alabama Christian struck first as Zac Westbrook led off the game with a double and later scored on an Isaac Warrick single for the early 1-0 lead. The Eagles tacked on a second run in the top of the fourth as Warrick scored on a Preston Hicks ground out for a 2-0 advantage. The Trojans responded in the bottom half with a two-out bases clearing double to take a 3-2 lead. Alabama Christian kept the deficit to one run as the inning ended with a Trojan base runner thrown at home plate by Isaac Warrick. ACA scored two runs in the sixth inning to retake the lead as Warrick and Hicks both scored on a St James error. The Trojans again answered with a run of their own to tie the game, 4-4. The contest went to extra innings and the Trojans scored the winning run in the bottom of the eighth for the 5-4 victory.
Zac Westbrook started on the mound for the Eagles and lasted six and two-third innings with four strikeouts. Hayes Hunt took the tough luck loss in relief as the run he gave up in the final frame was an unearned run after an infield error. Isaac Warrick carried the offense on the day with a 3 for 4 effort with two runs scored and an RBI. The rest of the lineup finished 3 for 25 collectively.
The series will resume on Friday with a doubleheader between the Area foes.