Andalusia battled back from a 7-0 deficit behind a strong relief performance from Clay Stephens to defeat Elba 9-8 on Senior Night Tuesday at home.

 

Elba took its seven-run lead in the bottom of the first on three hits and three errors to put the Bulldogs in a quick hole.

 

In the bottom of the second, the Bulldogs took advantage of a two-out error that allowed Devan McDuffie and Will Jones to score.

 

The Tigers added another run in the top of the third, and then Stephens entered as a relief pitcher and shut down the Tigers’ offense.

 

“There wasn’t much bad you can say about Clay (Stephens),” Bulldogs’ head coach Tyler Dent said. “He came in and pitched his tail off. He hasn’t really been much of a starter for us, but he has been great in relief all season.”

 

AHS continued to scratch its way back in to the game in the bottom of the third when Jason Donahue drove in Brayden Burkhardt, and then McDuffie drove in Chase Hopkins to cut the Tigers’ lead to 8-4.

 

Stephens was electric in the top of the fourth, punching out three Tigers on strikeouts.

 

In the bottom of the fourth, the Bulldogs inched closer to the Tigers with RBIs from Burkhardt and Hopkins that cut the Tigers’ lead to 8-7.

 

Ridge Riley crushed a double into the left center gap in the bottom of the fifth inning that scored Stephens for the tying run.

 

Todd Wright led off the bottom of the sixth with a single, and moved to second on a throwing error. Wright was then awarded third after a balk from the Tigers’ pitcher.

 

Hopkins came up two batters later and dropped down a picture perfect bunt for a base hit that allowed Wright to score the go-ahead run.

 

Stephens retired the Tigers in order in the top of the seventh to earn the victory on the mound for the Bulldogs.

 

“This kind of game tells a lot about the character of this team,” Dent said. “We aren’t really playing for anything know, as far as playoffs go, so for us to battle back for seven innings and come out on top, I was really proud of the effort tonight.”

 

Hopkins was 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs for the Bulldogs.

 

Riley Graham also had two RBIs for the Bulldogs, and was 1-for-3 at the plate.

 

Stephens picked up the win on the mound for the Bulldogs with four shutout-innings, and six strikeouts.