The Stringers Red Devils eliminated the host West Lincoln BearsFriday afternoon in the second game of a best-of-three series inthe second round of the Class 1A South State Baseball Playoffs.

Stringer defeated West Lincoln Thursday night 12-1 in the firstgame.

“I’m proud of how we played tonight,” said West Lincoln coachSteve Barrington after Friday’s game. “I am extremely proud of theleadership my seniors showed.”

Andrew Pierce was the winning pitcher in relief with 3strikeouts and no walks. Derek Brown worked the first 4 inningswith 4 strikeouts, 4walks and 1 hit batter. Weston Stringer workedthe 5th and 6th innings with 2 strikeouts and 2 walks.

Absorbing the loss was Brett Rushing with 3 strikeouts and 3walks while working the 5th-7th innings. Matt Magee fanned 1 andwalked none in seventh inning action. Starter Tyler Case fanned 3and walked 4 in the first 5 innings.

“It was a hard-fought game,” said Stringer coach Tommy Perkins.”We knew it would be a battle. We did what we needed to do. WestLincoln battled us to the end. This game could have went eitherway.”

The Bears (13-8) and the Red Devils (19-4) were tied 7-all inthe bottom of fifth before Stringer scored twice in the top of theseventh for the lead and eventual win.

Leading West Lincoln with a double and a single apiece wereMicah Bivens, Matt Magee and Zach Williams singled.

LSU signee Andrew Pierce led Stringer with 2 home runs and 4RBIs. Conner Blakeney homered and singled. Doubling and singlingwas Darius Beaver. Chander Blakeney doubled.