CANTON – The Brookhaven Academy Cougars handed Canton Academy a3-2 loss Tuesday in eight innings in the first game of abest-of-three series in the Academy AA South State BaseballPlayoffs.

Brookhaven Academy will host Canton Academy Thursday at 4:30p.m.. Canton must win the second game or face elimination. IfBrookhaven loses, then a third game would immediately follow.

With the game tied 2-all after seven innings, Brookhaven Academycatcher Kelly Allred belted a solo home run to give the Cougars a3-2 lead and the win. Canton was held scoreless in the bottom ofthe eighth.

Canton led 1-0 in the first inning. Brookhaven went up 2-1 inthe top of the sixth. The host Panthers came back to tie the gameat 2-all with one run in the bottom of the seventh.

“The first game of the series is important,”said BrookhavenAcademy coach Ron Rushing. “We have to work on our hats.”

Brookhaven was outhit 6-3 by Canton. Chad Lagrone singled andBen Davis his safely in the 15th straight game for the Cougars.

Posting the win was reliever Ben Sandifer (5-3) with 2 hitsallowed, 3 strikeouts and 2 walks. Starter Adam Smith worked thefirst 2 1/3 innings with 5 hits allowed, 5 strikeouts and 2walks.

Losing pitcher Jonathan Miller (6-3) went the distance, allowing3 runs on 3 hits, striking out 9 and walking 4.

@Linescore:BROOKHAVEN ACADEMY 3, CANTON ACADEMY 2

Brookhaven Academy

000

002

01

–

3

5

3

Canton Academy

100

000

10

–

2

6

3

@Bbstandings: Smith, Sandifer (3) and Allred; Mills and Todd.WP – Sandifer (5-2). LP – Mills (6-3). HR – Allred (BA). 2B- Malone (CA). Multiple hits – George (CA) 3, Ratcliff (CA)2.