The host Brookhaven Academy Cougars defeated the Adams CountyChristian School Rebels 15-14 in seven innings Wednesday in thesecond game of the AA State Baseball Playoffs. The game lastednearly four hours.

Game Three will be played tonight in Natchez to decide whoadvances to the next round. Whoever wins will meet the winner ofthe Prairie View-Silliman series next.

The Cougars improved to 15-8 with the win and the Rebels fell to19-4 with the loss.

“ACCS has a great ball club,” said BA head baseball coach StevenCooksey after the win . “Our kids stepped it up tonight andwon.”

With the game tied 14-14 in the bottom of the seventh, ACCSfreshman reliever Matt Barnes (4-1) walked BA batter Cole Hodgeswith the bases loaded to score Ryan Vanderslice from third for thegame-winning run.

“We had our chances in the seventh,” said ACCS head coach GillMorris.”Give BA credit.”

ACCS trailed BA 14-10 going into the top of the seventh inning.A big 2-run homer from rightfielder David Trisler and an infieldthrowing error by the Cougars allowed the Rebels to tie the gamegame with four runs.

The winning pitcher was reliever Corey Dickerson who replacedstarter Cole Hodges in the top of the sixth with one out and tworunners on base and ACCS leading BA 9-7. Dickerson allowed 4 runson 5 hits, 3 walks and a hit batter. Hodges allowed 9 runs on 9hits, struck out 2, walked 5 and hit 3 batters.

Credited with the loss was Barnes with 7 runs allowed on 6 hits,2 strikeouts, 3 walks and 3 hit batters. Starter Corey Walker (5-0)allowed 9 runs on 6 hits, struck out 2 , walked 8 and hit 3batters.

ACCS led BA 1-0 in the top of the second inning. The Cougarsexploded for five runs to take a 5-1 lead in the bottom of thesecond.

The Rebels cut the deficit to 5-2 with one run in the top of thethird and followed with an explosive seven runs in the fourth for a9-5 lead. Left fielder Clay Floyd smashed a grand slam home runwith the score tied 5-all for four big runs.

The Cougars came back with two runs in the bottom of the fourthto cut the deficit to 9-7.

In the sixth inning, ACCS pushed its lead to 10-7 but BA ralliedfor 7 runs to take a 14-10 lead going into the seventh.

Powering the Cougars at the plate with a double and pair ofsingles was centerfielder Paul Davis. Dickerson belted a double anda single. Trey Allred and Keith Franklin both doubled and singled.Hodges singled twice. Seth Davis and Chris Falvey singled.

For the Rebels, second baseman Dustin Case drilled four singles.Jamie Morris smashed a pair of doubles. Doubling twice were RaySimpson, Cole Bradford and Timmy Foster. Foster and Brian Smithsingled.

Cooksey added, “I want to thank the people in school forsupporting us.”