Each and every player on the Pike Liberal Arts roster knew what was at stake Tuesday afternoon.

A pair of wins over struggling Evangel Christian and the Pats would win another area title.

Pike used big first innings in each of the two games to roll past the Lions 11-0 and 15- in a double header.

In game one, Charles Henderson led 11-0 after two innings and received a good outing on the mound from Tullie Everett.

“I was proud to see Tullie throw the way he did today,” said Pike Liberal Arts head coach Butch Austin. “He didn’t have a good day the other day, and he came out today looking a lot better. We had a talk the other day, and he looked good today. He threw strikes when he wanted to and when he had to.”

In game two. Pike jumped on Evangel early with eight runs in the first inning to cruise to a 15-0 win in three innings.

The Patriots had only two base hits in the inning, but took advantage of two errors, four walks and a hit batter to spark the big start.

Chandler Avant walked to lead off the game, and doubled in a pair of runs late in the stanza.

Rush Hixon also drove in two runs in the first on a bloop single to center field.

Pike loaded the bases in the second inning, but was unable to bring any runs home.

In the third, Pike used three walks, a pair of hit batter, double off the bat of Bailey Renfroe, scoring his cousin Murphy, a single from Blake Cumbie and a game-ending single from Hayes Lee to put the finishing touches on the Lions.

With the win, the Patriots claim their eight consecutive area championship in to the AISA post-season beginning next week.

Austin said he was proud of his players and assistant coach Alex Adams.

“No one expected these kids to win this area, but they did,” said Austin. “They worked had to do, as did Coach Adams. I can’t thank him enough for the job he has done, and we are ready to keep going and keep winning.”

Pike plays host to Hooper Academy on Wednesday. The game is Senior Day for the Patriots.

“We have a game on Wednesday, but that doesn’t matter to our seed,” said Austin. “Its all for second place for Hooper and Macon, but we aren’t going to let up. We want to keep momentum going and we want to keep winning.”

Wednesday’s game is set to begin at 3:30 p.m.