Bats were hot at Escambia Academy Tuesday, as the Cougars ripped 11 hits at the plate giving them the boost they needed to crush the Sparta Academy Warriors 14-3.

The Cougars (8-1) batted nearly .500 as a team going 11-for-26, while a trio of pitchers in Michael Thompson, Reid Bell and Jarrett Hadley gave up one earned run in five innings and struck out a total of 10 batters.

Escambia Academy struck first jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning.

The Warriors responded with a run in the top of the third to cut the Cougars’ lead to two runs, but EA extended their lead in the bottom of the inning scoring six runs to lead 9-1.

Sparta added two runs in the fourth inning to make the score 9-3, but the Cougars put the game out of reach in the bottom of the inning scoring five more runs to pull ahead 14-3.

Hadley made the move to the mound in the top of the fifth to shut down the Warriors to end the game on a 10-run rule.

At the plate, Hadley was the leader for the Cougars going 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a double in the win.

Braxton Chastang and Chance Jackson each had two RBIs for the Cougars, with Chastang hitting 2-for-3 and Jackson going 1-for-3.

Cougar Austin McGhee had a perfect day at the plate hitting 2-for-2 and scoring two runs in the contest, while Austin Ryan went 1-for-1 with a run scored.

Clayton Dyess led the Cougars with three runs scored and went 1-for-1 with a double.

Cameron McGhee and Bell both hit 1-for-3 in the win and scored one run each.
The Cougars next game will be Thursday, March 29 at home against Pensacola Christian Academy. The game will begin at 6 p.m. following the junior varsity match up.

EA JV 5
SA JV 4
Trey McGhee earned the win for the Escambia Academy Cougars’ junior varsity baseball team Tuesday in Canoe.

McGhee pitched three innings and struck out six batters, as the Cougars slipped past the Sparta Academy Warriors 5-4.

Escambia Academy took the lead first with three runs in the bottom of the first inning thanks to a two-run home run by Nate Smith (2-for-2, HR, 2RBIs)  and an RBI-fielder’s choice by Brett Gorum (0-for-2, RBI) that scored Drew Parker (0-for-0, R).

The Warriors quickly responded to tie at 3 scoring runs on EA’s starting pitcher Kevin Gumapac in the top of the second. Gumapac pitched two innings striking out four and giving up one hit.

The teams traded runs in the third inning, but the Cougars took the lead for the final time in the bottom of the fourth scoring one run to earn the 5-4 win.

J.P. Sawyer finished the game with a 1-for-3 performance and scored a run in the win, while Trey McGhee and Xan McGhee each hit 1-for-2. Xan McGhee had an RBI for the Cougars.

H.T. Fountain rounded out the hitting going 1-for-2 for the Cougars.

The Cougars next game will be Thursday, March 29 at home against Pensacola Christian Academy. The game is scheduled to begin at        4 p.m.