WINNSBORO – The SCISA Class 1A state semi-final series between top-seeded Richard Winn Academy and Marlboro Academy is headed for a winner-take-all Game 3 after the Eagles kept their championship hopes alive with a gritty road win Tuesday.
Monday’s series opener was an eight-inning heartbreaker for the Eagles, who fell 5-4 at home despite 11 strikeouts from starter Bonds and a 3-for-4 night from Bennett Nicholson. Trailing 4-1 in the seventh, Richard Winn forced extra innings behind a clutch RBI single from Walker Blackwelder, but Marlboro reclaimed the lead in the eighth. Marlboro slammed the door with a rare immaculate inning, striking out the side on just nine pitches to steal Game 1.
Facing elimination on Tuesday, the Eagles responded with an 11-hit explosion to take a 9-4 win and even the series.
Blackwelder anchored the win with a complete-game effort, striking out seven while allowing just one earned run.
Hoffman Sharpe provided the early fireworks with a two-run triple in the first, and Blackwelder highlighted an eight-steal night by swiping home in the fifth. Nicholson, Bonds, and Sharpe each added multi-hit performances to fuel the attack.
The deciding Game 3 is set for Thursday at 6 p.m. at Richard Winn. The winner advances to the SCISA State Championship series, which begins May 11, to face either W.W. King Academy.
MALBORO – 0-0-0-1-0-0-3-1 – 5-8-5
RICHARD WINN – 0-0-0-0-0-1-3-0 – 4-6-2
WP: Edge 1.2 IP, 2H, 2R, 2ER, 2BB, 4K
RW: Nicholson 3-4, RBI. Blackwelder 2-3, 3 RBI. Patrick 1-2.
RICHARD WINN – 3-0-0-1-2-1-2 – 9-11-2
MALBORO – 2-1-1-0-0-0-0 – 4-7-3
WP: Blackwelder 7.0 IP, 7H, 4R, 1ER, 1BB, 7K
RW: Albert 1-3, 2 BB. Nicholson 2-4, RBI, 2B. Blackwelder 2-3, BB, RBI. Bonds 2-4, RBI. Patrick 1-3, 2B. Sharpe 2-4, 2 RBI, 3B. Swearingen 1-3.