Andrew Kelly took advantage of his opportunity.
Kelly hit a walk-off sacrifice fly to center field to lift Oak Grove over rival Petal 4-3 in Game 1 of the MHSAA Class 7A second round baseball playoff series at Harry Breland Field on Friday night.
“When we got the walk to load the bases and Andrew coming up, I told him just have fun and swing the bat and hit the ball somewhere,” said Oak Grove coach Chris McCardle. “He did a good job of putting the ball in play and we came away with the big win.”
Petal scored the game’s first run in the top of the first to take a 1-0 lead as Fischer Howell scored on a throwing error.
Oak Grove tied the game up at 1-1 in the bottom of the third on an Eli Wheat RBI triple to right
The Warriors took a 3-1 lead in the fourth on a two-run double down the left field line.
Petal answered with two runs in the top of the sixth to tie game at 3-3 on a Tanner Beliveau solo home run to center and Landry Stringfellow scored on another Oak Grove throwing error.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Maddox Miller reached on an infield single, Bryson Chapman was hit by a pitch, and Caleb Pfaff walked to load the bases with one out to set up Kelly who delivered the walk-off sacrifice fly to center field.
“It was a great game, and I feel like the runs they scored we gave to them, and we came into the last inning, put together a good inning and we were able to walk it off,” Wheat said. “This was a big win at home especially in front of a big crowd, so it was exciting. Just have to go over there tomorrow with same approach and try to close out the series.”
Stratton Farmer got the win on the mound in relief for Oak Grove (24-5). Warrior starter and Mississippi State signee Maddox Miller got the no decision, but last six innings scattering three hits, three runs (one earned), four walks, and had 10 strikeouts.
“Maddox pitched well and made some good pitches. We gave them two runs on bad throws when they put some pressure on us on the bases and we didn’t handle it well,” McCardle said. “Petal is a really good team and they didn’t go away. It was a really good high school baseball game, but it’s over now and we got to try win again, so it’ll be a dog fight.”
Kaleb Dillon took the loss in relief for Petal. The Panthers (20-10) could only manage three hits.
“I think in every loss we’ve had this year it has came down to walks, but I’m not upset on how we played I think we showed a lot of fight just we didn’t do the things we needed to do to win,” said Petal coach Jake Mills. “This is what these games are like and I think our guys are going to respond tomorrow with backs against the wall. The goal is to get back here Monday.”
Game 2 of the series is set for Saturday night at 7 p.m. at Petal.
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