Already having clinched a first round playoff spot, the W.S. Neal baseball team inched their way closer to becoming area champions Thursday at Thomasville as they rallied for an 8-5 win.
The win improved the No. 8-ranked Eagles to 15-4 overall and to 7-0 in area play.
W.S. Neal was set to play at home against Thomasville for the area championship Friday in East Brewton.
The Eagles trailed 4-0 after the first inning and 5-0 after two innings. After neither team scored in the third inning, the Eagles scored eight unanswered runs in the final four innings to get the win.
W.S. Neal scored two in the fourth and three in the fifth to tie the game at 5-5. In the sixth innings, W.S. Neal scored two runs to take a 7-5 lead and added one run in the top of the seventh to get the three-run win.
Brian Settle earned the win on the mound for the Eagles pitching 6 2/3 innings allowing nine hits, three walks, hit two and struck out eight. Keith Bradley went the final 1/3 of an inning getting the save.
Of Settle’s hit batters, walks and six of the hits came in the first two innings.
At the plate for the Eagles, Hunter Mullins was 1-for-2 with two walks and two runs. Keith Bradley was 2-for-4 with one RBI and Logan Williamson was 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
Reid Johnson was 1-for-3 with three RBIs and a bases loaded double in the fifth inning.