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It took eight innings, but Andalusia took another step closer to clinching a playoff spot with a hard-fought 5-4 area baseball win against Geneva at home on Friday, April 5.

The Bulldogs claimed a 10-5 win on Thursday, April 4, and improved their season record to 11-8 overall and 3-1 in 4A Area 3. The Panthers fell to 3-12 and 1-3 in 4A Area 3.

Starting pitcher Kielan Davis needed only 13 pitches and worked around a two-out error in the opening inning. Parker Adams was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the first, and Noah Curry walked with two outs. Michael Moore stranded both runners and kept the game scoreless after one inning.

Davis struck out two Geneva batters and retired the side in order on just 12 pitches in the top of the second. Will Dalton and Connor Ray delivered back-to-back singles with one away. After both runners advanced 90 feet on a passed ball, Mason Meeks brought home Dalton with the first run on an RBI groundout. Andalusia maintained its 1-0 lead with two innings in the books.

Landon Williams reached on an error in the visiting third before Moore singled and put runners at first and second. Davis held the Panthers off the board yet again with a fly out and fielder’s choice. Adams launched a leadoff homer to center and doubled the lead to 2-0 in the home portion. Moore followed with two quick outs, but Curry kept the frame alive with a ringing double. Curry took third on an error and gave the Bulldogs a 3-0 lead on another miscue.

Dylan Key was hit by a pitch in the top of the fourth but was erased on a double play. Meeks hit a one-out double in the bottom half as Davis walked. Michael O’Brien singled two batters later and loaded the bases. Courtesy runner Sawyer Hardy scored on an error and pushed the margin to 4-0 at the end of four innings.

Davis continued to dazzle on the mound and shut Geneva down in order with only seven pitches in the top of the fifth. Moore threw 11 pitches and made quick work of Andalusia as the action moved to the sixth.

Key singled with one out in the visiting sixth and moved to second on a walk to Timothy McReynolds. Key took third on a fly out, but Davis preserved the 4-0 lead with a groundout. Moore did not allow a base runner in the home half of the frame and set the stage for the seventh.

Rhett Shiver started the top of the seventh with a single and scored on an RBI single from Blake Wilson. Williams was hit by a pitch before Moore flew out to center. After a pitching change, Key drew the Panthers even with a two-out three-run blast to center. Adams knocked a leadoff single for the Bulldogs in the bottom half and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by O’Brien. Adams reached third on a groundout from Landen Butler, but Moore induced a pop-up and left the score 4-4 after seven innings.

Shiver laced a one-out double in the top of the eighth but was caught stealing third for the second out. Haze Ammons lined out to center and left the score tied at 4-4. Dalton delivered a one-out single as courtesy runner Mason Sheridan ultimately reached third. Ray capped the extra-inning contest with a single and brought home Sheridan with the final run.

Adams paced Andalusia at the plate with a 2-for-3 showing and scored a run and RBI. Dalton went 2-for-4 with a run scored as O’Brien, Curry, Ray, and Meeks each added a hit. Davis threw 6 1/3 innings for the Bulldogs and allowed three earned runs on four hits with a walk and three strikeouts. O’Brien earned the win in relief with 1 2/3 innings of one-run, three-hit ball.

Key earned a 2-for-4 showing with a run scored and three RBIs for Geneva. Shiver also went 2-for-4 with a run, and Wilson was 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Moore gave up five runs (two earned) on nine hits with three walks and four strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings.

Andalusia will close its area schedule at Dale County on Thursday, April 11.