JACKSON – Donovan Lorraine hit a deep fly ball to right fieldand drove in Tripp Jolly with the winning run in the top of theseventh inning Tuesday night as the Brookhaven Academy Cougarsedged Hillcrest Christian 1-0. The victory gave BA a 1-0 lead inthe best-of-three MAIS Class AA State Championship series.

BA (28-8) hosts Hillcrest (23-10) Thursday for Game Two, startingat 5 p.m. If a third game is necessary, it will follow 30 minutesafter the conclusion of Game Two.

Junior right-hander Hunter McCullough won a classic pitching duelwith Hillcrest southpaw Josh Rogers, a Southern Miss signee.McCullough (5 K, 0 BB) worked his way out of two bases-loaded jamsto win his seventh game in nine outings. He scattered sevenhits.

“McCullough was our main guy,” said BA coach Casey Edwards. “He dida great job keeping us in the game. We knew this would be a toughseries.”

Edwards said his team must avoid overconfidence. They will faceHillcrest ace Austin Hartzog in Thursday’s opener. He’s an Ole Misssignee.

“It’s not over yet and we aren’t satisfied,” said Edwards. “Westill have one game to go.”

McCullough, a transfer from McComb High, shared credit with histeammates. “Our defense was great tonight. Team-wise, we never gaveup. Our hitting was off but we stuck in there and did what weneeded to win.”

Hillcrest loaded the bases on McCullough in the second and thirdinnings but failed to score.

Jolly led off the seventh with a walk. He advanced to third andscored on Lorraine’s sacrifice fly to right. Rogers hit one batterand issued an intentional walk in the seventh.

Singles by Tyler Parvin and Jolly were the only hits off Rogers(6-4) who struck out 10 batters, walked one and hit onebatter.

“Their pitcher pitched a great game,” said Hillcrest coach ShaneKelly. “We’ve got to get clutch hits when the bases are loaded. Wecouldn’t achieve a big hit.”

Caleb Baucum and James Adams each had two hits for Hillcrest.Justin Smith doubled.