Madison Academy forces game 3 tonight in first round of playoffs

CULLMAN — Madison Academy, its offense shutdown in the first game against Fairview, rebounded to win the second and force a deciding third in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs Thursday.

The Aggies (21-15) took the first game 6-1, with the Mustangs (22-12) winning 6-3 in Game 2.

The teams are set to square off today at 5 p.m.

“We really just didn’t get a lot going offensively in the first game,” Madison Academy head coach David Pressley said. “We pitched and played defense well in Game 2 to keep us in it until we could get enough going to score a few runs.

“But really, our win was made up out of pitching and defense. We know we’re gonna have to hit a lot better (today).”

Today’s winner will face either West Point or Boaz in the second round.

“It’s Game 3, and typically the team that goes out and swings it has the best chance to win,” Pressley said. “We’ve been much better with the bats through the season, and we’ve got to find a spark (today) and take some pressure off the pitchers.”

In the second game against Fairview, the Mustangs’ offense was still dormant as they trailed 1-0 going into the fifth. Madison Academy then came alive to score four run in the fifth inning, added two more runs in the sixth and held on for the win.

The Mustangs again scratched out a limited number of hits with just five total after totaling just four in the opener, but it was enough.

Anderson Reece, the team’s No. 9 hitter, led the way going 2-for-2 with a walk and two runs scored. Leadoff hitter Pearson Blue had a hit, RBI and two runs scored. Grady Moore had a double and RBI and Truett Austin added an RBI.

Starter Chase Harris-Lambert went 5.2 innings to get the win. He gave up just two hits, but walked five while striking out three. Weston Todd finished up on the mound and allowed no hits in 1.1 innings.

Fairview 6, Madison Academy 1: Hunter Barron went the seven-inning distance in the opener, allowing four hits while striking out seven and walking two to get the win.

The game was tied at 1-all until the fifth when Fairview’s Camden Cullen hit a three-run double to make it 4-1. The Aggies added two runs in the sixth.

Blue led the game off with a single, stole second and later scored on a passed ball to give the Mustangs a 1-0 lead.

Grady Moore was the tough luck losing pitcher. He went five innings and allowed just three hits, struck out two and walked three.