GAINESVILLE — Eudy Medina capped a three-run seventh inning with a two-run single to lift Gainesville to a much-needed 6-5 win over Apalachee Friday for a Region 8-6A road win.
It was a huge win for Gainesville (8-14, 3-6 Region 8-6A) which pulled into a four-way tie with Apalachee, Dacula, and Lanier for third place in the region standings. It also snapped a four-game losing streak in region play.
The Red Elephants will open a crucial three-game series with Dacula on Monday, weather permitting, on the road. Gainesville will close out the regular season with a three-game series against No. 1 Winder-Barrow the following week.
The Red Elephants scored first with a run in the first when Seth White scored on a dropped third strike with two outs. But the Wildcats (12-11, 3-6 Region 8-6A) answered with four runs in the second, all unearned, and another in the fourth, also unearned, to take a 5-1 lead off Gainesville starter Victor Vega.
Gainesville pulled closer in the fifth with a two-run home run from Grady Vardeman to trailed 5-3. Vega kept the Red Elephants close and eventually gave way to White, who pitched a near-perfect 1 2/3 inning allowing no hits and no walks while striking out one to get the win in relief.
Vardeman, White, Medina, Dalton Kyle, and Cale Conley all had two hits for Gainesville. Harris Bell and Shawn Gregg had one hit apiece for the Red Elephants.
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Athens Christian used a five-run first to grab an ealry lead en route to the win over Commerce Friday in Region 8-A action.
The Eagles got a pair of walks and a hit by pitch with the bases loaded in the opening frame. Commerce got its only run in the second on a RBI single by Will Slater scoring Evan Davis.
But the Tigers could get no closer despite banging out 10 huts on the day. Athens Christian added three runs in the fifth aided by two Commerce errors.
Chandler Martin and Davis each had two hits for Commerce. Slater, Chase Bridges, Matt Martin, Gray Holbrook, Colby Rogers, and Kody Mintz all had one hit for the Tigers.
