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The Pike Liberal Arts Patriots split the first two games of their Class 2A State Baseball Quarterfinals series with the Bayshore Christian Eagles at home on Thursday.

Bayshore took game one by a score of 7-4 despite Pike outhitting the Eagles in the loss. Pike led 4-2 going into the fifth inning when Bayshore scored five unanswered runs to take the lead and ultimately the win.

Peyton Elliot led PLAS at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs, while Kade Brookins went 2-for-4 with a run. Luke Barron took the loss on the mound, striking out two batters and giving up five hits and two earned runs in five innings pitched. Dawson Bradford also struck out a batter and gave up two hits and no earned runs in two innings pitched.

For Bayshore, Jack Malone went 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBIs and a run. Malone was also the winning pitcher, striking out four and giving up nine hits and one earned run in a complete game.

Early on in game two, Bayshore looked like it would sweep its way into the semifinals after taking a 6-2 lead into the fourth inning only for the Patriots to rally to victory. PLAS scored four runs in the fourth inning and tied the score 6-6. Bayshore managed one run in the bottom of the fourth to retake the lead 7-6, however.

In the top of the sixth, though, three Pike batters were walked to load the bases. Pruitt Vaughan then belted an RBI single into right field that drove Jackson Mitchell in for the tying run. Next, Cole Garrott singled into right field to drive both Barron and Brookins in for the go-ahead runs to put Pike up 9-7. Finally, Garrett Whitaker’s RBI single drove Garrott home to stretch the lead to 10-7. PLAS kept the Eagles scoreless for the remainder of the game to force a game three.

Brookins went 2-for-2 with two RBIs and a run, while Elliot hit a home run and Bradford went 2-for-4 with a run. Bradford also got the win on the mound, striking out four and giving up three hits and no runs in three and 1/3 innings pitched. Brookins also toed the rubber for three and 2/3 innings, striking out one batter and giving up six hits and five earned runs.

Malone went 2-for-3 with another homer, one RBI and two runs for the Eagles. Nate Crooms pitched three and 1/3 innings and fanned three batters along with giving up five hits and four earned runs.

Pike Lib will host Bayshore Christian in the series finale this afternoon at 4:30 p.m. The winner will move on to face Ariton in the State Semifinals next week.