ATLANTA - The no. 6 seeded Mount Vernon varsity baseball team split its GHSA Class-A Private Sweet-16 doubleheader against the no. 11 seeded Fellowship Christian Paladins on Thursday afternoon, May 2, falling 8-1 in Game One before rallying for a 4-3 victory in Game Two.
A decisive Game Three is now slated for Friday afternoon, May 3.
After two scoreless innings in Game One, the Paladins broke through in the top of the third inning to take the lead for good.
Matson Grose singled to left field to score Ethan Bell for an early 1-0 advantage.
An inning later, the Paladins plated four more runs for a 5-0 lead.
Isaac Bouton helped his own cause with a RBI double to left field to score Garrett Hauenstein, David Bishop reached on an infield error to plate Bouton, Preston Joye scored on a balk and Andrew Davidson reached on another infield miscue to bring home Bishop.
After a scoreless fifth, the Paladins put the game out of reach in the sixth frame plating three runs.
Bishop singled home Cameron Gill, Grose successfully laid down a sacrifice bunt to plate Bishop and Luke Schmidt singled to right field to bring in Johnathon Morris for an 8-0 lead.
Mount Vernon's lone run came in the bottom of the sixth inning when Alex VanLandingham reached on an infield error by the Paladins to score Tres Gonzalez for an 8-1 contest.
Bouton picked up the win for the Paladins, tossing a complete game while recording 10 strikeouts.
Mullen was tabbed with the loss for Mount Vernon in Game One, tossing 3 1/3 innings, allowing seven hits, five runs (three earned) while striking out two batters.
With their backs against the wall after a loss, the Mustangs fought back from an early 1-0 deficit in Game Two to force a decisive third game.
The Paladins, playing as the home team in Game Two, took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when Davidson grounded into a double play to bring in Bouton.
But the Mustangs countered with three runs in the third inning.
Gonzalez tripled to center field to score Alex Mette and Cole Forrest to give the Mustangs their first lead of the series at 2-1.
Nate Anderson followed with a double to the right field wall to score Gonzalez for a 3-1 advantage.
In the bottom of the third frame, Bouton got one run back on a solo home run to straight away center field for a 3-2 game.
After two scoreless innings, the Paladins appeared to recapture the momentum in the bottom of the sixth by tying the game at 3-3 when Bishop singled to right field to score Gill.
But in the top of the seventh, the Mustangs scored the final run of the contest when Anderson hit a high chopper to first base that took a Mustang bounce into the outfield to score Forrest for a 4-3 lead.
Gonzalez retired the side in the bottom of the seventh to earn the complete game victory.
The southpaw allowed three runs (one earned) and recorded nine strikeouts as well.
Joye was charged with the loss for the Paladins.
After the doubleheader, both teams flipped for home field advantage for Friday's series finale with Mustangs (18-7) earning the nod.
First pitch for Game Three is scheduled for 3:15 p.m. at the Glenn Campus Baseball Field on Friday.
The Mount Vernon Athletic Department strives to build the student-athlete by providing a five-star experience built on community, courage, development, hospitality and professionalism. As a school of inquiry, innovation and impact grounded in Christian values, we prepare all students to be college-ready, globally competitive, and engaged citizen leaders. For more information on Mount Vernon athletics, visit and follow @MV_Athletics on Twitter for up-to-the-minute news on the Mustangs.
BASEBALL SPLITS SWEET-16 PLAYOFF DOUBLEHEADER WITH FELLOWSHIP, GAME THREE SET FOR FRIDAY
