The Atmore Christian School Rams came back from a four-run deficit to beat Central Christian 8-7 Friday in Atmore.

The Saints came out hot, scoring four runs in the top of the first, but ACS answered with a run of its own in the bottom of the inning.

William Swartzendruber was walked to leadoff the inning and was brought around to score on a single by Christopher Gehman.

Gehman, as pitcher, kept Central scoreless over the next two innings.

In the bottom of the second, Charlie Gandy and Nathan Jurjevich each singled and Swatzendruber reached on a fielder’s choice. A Gehman single drove in Jurjevich with a single.

Central answered with a run in the top of the fourth to push the lead to 5-2. Swartzendruber relieved Gehman in the fourth inning.

The Rams answered in the bottom of the fourth. Swartzendruber was hit by a pitch and advanced to third on a double by Perry Metzler. Both Rams scored when a ball hit by Gehman found its way past the second baseman. Gehman scored on a single by Wesley Hostetler.

With the game tied at five apiece, Central scored in the top of the fifth to take the lead.

ACS took the lead in the bottom half. Daren Landis was walked, while Austin Swartzendruber and Charlie Gandy reached on errors. Jurjevich singled to score Austin Swartzendruber and William Swartzendruber scored Gandy on a fielder’s choice. Gehman hit a double to bring in the final run.

Neither team scored in the sixth, but Central’s first two runners reached base in the top of the seventh, but their next three batters all got put out to end the game.

“We cut down on our mistakes, which gave us a chance,” coach Anthony Swartzendruber wrote in an email. “We had everybody in the lineup putting the ball in play, which was a key.”

He also commended his top hitter for the day.

“Christopher Gehman had a great day at the plate going three-for-four and driving in four runs,” he wrote.