Tyson Eley's ground ball was just enough well placed to allow Zac Russell to score from third base with two outs in the bottom of the eighth to give Saint James its fourth straight victory (matching its COVID-shortened 7 - 6 record of 2020) and a 1 - 0 lead in 4A Area 5 as they won a back and forth battle over the Eagles.

Alabama Christian led 2 - 0 after the top of the fourth inning.  Eagles starting pitcher led off the game with a double to deep right field and scored two outs later on a single by Isaac Warrick, who led the Eagles offensive attack with 3 hits.  The Eagles added an unearned run in the fourth on Warrick's second single, two errors, and a groundout.

Saint James finally took the lead with 3 runs in the bottom of the fourth.  An Eley walk, a Michael Winn single, and a one out walk to Kevin Taylor loaded the bases.  After a strike out, Ethan Beard grounded an 0 - 2 pitch down the left field line for a bases-clearing double.

The Eagles would regain the lead with two unearned runs in the top of the sixth - Warrick's third single and an error put two runners on base, and a two out dropped fly ball allowed both to score to give ACA a 4 - 3 lead.  Jeffrey Ford led off the bottom of the sixth with a single and Beard followed up with a hit on a perfectly executed hit and run.  Ford scored as the ball was overrun in the outfield.  The Eagles did manage to not give up any more runs with Beard on third and no out to hold the game at 4.

Neither team seriously threatened in the seventh, and Trojan Carson Howard, who pitched a complete game only giving up one earned run, was nearing his pitch count limit but retired ACA in order in the top of the eighth.

Zac Russell led off the bottom of the eighth and was safe at second on a hit and run attempt stopped in the infield.  Russell took third on a ground out to set up Eley's two out game-winning hit which was fielded by Eagle second baseman Brandon Bice, but his desperation throw did not reach first in time.

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