2A Playoffs: Stringer explodes for 14 runs to take Game 1 from Pisgah

PISGAH — It wasn’t pretty, but Stringer head coach Wade Weathers will take it.

Behind a potent offensive performance, the Red Devils held off a late Pisgah rally to beat the Dragons 14-10 in Game 1 of the MHSAA Class 2A South State Championship series on Monday night.

Game 2 of the series will be at Stringer on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. If necessary, Game 3 will be back at Pisgah on Thursday at 7 p.m.

“Our offense has done really well through out the playoffs and it carried over to tonight,” Weathers said. “Jumping on them early was huge to take their crowd out of it, but we got too complacent at the end.”

Stringer jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first on a sacrifice fly by Lance Jenkins and a two-run double to left center by Caden Hicks.

The Red Devils added three more runs in the second to extend their lead to 6-0 on a two-run home run to right-center by Mississippi State signee Jackson Parker and another RBI double by Hicks.

Pisgah cut the lead to 6-1 in the bottom of the second on solo home run to left by Ian Holliday.

Stringer added two more runs in the third on a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly by Evan Holifield to extend the lead to 8-1.

Nic Arender’s two-run homer to left in the fifth gave the Red Devils a 10-1 lead.

Pisgah scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth on a wild pitch and a two-run single by Aiden Swales.

Stringer added on four more runs in the sixth on a pair of wild pitches and bases loaded walks.

The Dragons scored three runs in the sixth and seventh innings to cut the Stringer lead down to 14-10.

“Caden has been hitting well the last few games and making some people pay for pitching the big hitters in front of him. Pisgah is a tough team and they fought hard to the end,” Weathers said. “Now we have a chance to clinch the series at home and anytime you have that opportunity is big.”

Hicks had three hits with four RBIs to lead Stringer (27-6) offensively. Holifield had two hits, while Lance Jenkins (8-0) got the win on the mound for the Red Devils.

“Had a good approach at the plate and hit the ball really well tonight,” Hicks said. “The whole team hit the ball well, but had a chance to win it early but didn’t but came away with the win. Now we get to play at home and we don’t get beat at home.”

Holiday, along with Swales and Colton Coleman, had two hits for Pisgah (28-7). Brendon Gaunt (7-2) took the loss on the mound for the Dragons.

“Dug ourselves too big off a hole early and it was hard to come out of,” said Pisgah coach Sam Starnes. “We did fine at the plate late in the game, but it was too late. We didn’t play great defense or pitch it well enough tonight to win. We’ve been here before losing Game 1 and bouncing back to win a series.”