Florala’s Austin Franklin compiled 15 strikeouts and threw a one-hitter in six innings in a 11-0 victory over Pleasant Home.

Franklin also went 3-for-5 behind the plate in a game where FHS led 5-0 after the third inning to set the tone early.

“I thought it was good game,” FHS baseball coach Bubba Nall said. “Austin threw well. We played defense behind him. Pleasant Home, to their credit, they battled and fought, and that little guy who started pitching for them — he hung in there and did a good job. They played good defense, but I’m proud of our kids for just staying with it.”

The Wildcats scored three runs in the first inning, two runs in the third, and three each in the sixth and seventh.

PHS coach Lamar Gibson said miscues cost the Eagles in the field.

“Defensively, we didn’t play very solid,” Gibson said. “We had some mental mistakes. Their pitcher, Franklin, pitched a very good game. They played well in all phases of the game.”

Tenth-ranked FHS improves to 11-2 overall, and 4-0 in Class 1A, Area 3. The Wildcats need to win their first game on Thursday of a doubleheader against PHS to win the area championship.

Gibson said he told his boys that they still have an opportunity to stop that from happening.

“We’ll go after them and see what we can do,” he said.

Stephen Ratliff came in and pitched the final inning, retiring the side.

Pleasant Home’s David Baker was the only batter who got a hit off of Franklin.

Corey Self pitched more than five innings. Garrett Barton pitched the last 1.5 innings.

Avery McNeill went 4-for-5 to lead FHS.

Florala and Pleasant Home will be back in action for an area doubleheader tomorrow starting at 4 p.m.