MCCOMB – The Brookhaven Academy Cougars were just two outs away from picking up a road victory against the neighboring Parklane Pioneers Tuesday afternoon in McComb.

But the home squad was able to manufacture three late runs to tie the game and send it to an extra inning. BA plated two more runs in the top of the eighth but the Pioneers responded with three of their own in the bottom to nip the Cougars 10-9.

Fisher Warren led the Cougar 12-hit junket with two triples and a single. Madison Smith, Jaden Clark and William King each hit safely twice with Clark and Smith recording two and three RBIs respectively. JT Cline, Carter Culbertson and Taylor Freeny had a single apiece.

“I’m extremely proud of the way our guys battled today. We fought to the very last out,” said BA head coach Tyler Parvin. “This was a great learning game for us and I hope our guys see that we have a chance to compete every time we step out on the field.”

Freeny pitched seven strong innings striking out six Pioneer batters in a no decision outing for the Cougars. Smith absorbed the setback in short relief of Freeny. “I can’t say enough about the job Taylor (Freeny) did for us,” said Parvin. “On a night that he didn’t have his best stuff, he gave us a chance to win and that is all I can ever ask from a kid,”

BA (4-1) is scheduled to face these same Parklane Pioneers Thursday evening at Harold Williams Ballpark in Brookhaven. JV first pitch is scheduled for 4:30 pm followed by varsity action at 6:30. The Cougars are also set to face off with the Bowling Green Buccaneers on Friday afternoon at BA.