After struggling to find gaps in game one of Wednesday’s Division II-A State Quarterfinals doubleheader, Lakeway Christian simply started hitting balls over the fence in game two.

The Lions blasted two home runs in an 8-3 win over Evangelical Christian to keep their season alive.

“Live to fight another day,” LCA head coach Chuck Hargis said. “First game, we hit the ball well, we just hit it right at them, Luke (Burnett) threw really well. And then the second game, we just regrouped, talked about forgetting what happened first game. We came out, jumped on them early, hit a couple home runs, big swings for + us, stayed alive.”

Hudson Ford wasted no time flipping the script in the nightcap, following a Bryson Allen RBI single with a two-run blast in the top of the first that quickly put LCA up 3-0.

“He’s swinging the bat well right now, and it’s great for us,” Hargis said. “We struggled a little bit that first game to get on the board and just come out and jump on them early in the first inning. It was definitely better than in the first game.”

Lakeway cooled off after the first inning, and the 3-1 score held until the fifth., and Hargis knew that wouldn’t be enough to put ECA away.

Ford sparked another ral- ly with a single, and Jack Hamilton followed with a two-run homer to make the Lakeway lead 6-1, later expanding to 8-1.

“If you’ve watched our team, unfortunately, we get a lead, and we kind of get a little comfortable,” Hargis said. “You can tell by the dug out, it kind of goes a little quiet. So we were just trying to remind them to keep scoring, you’ve got to keep putting a crooked number on the board if we can. And (Hamilton) stepped up, hit a big home run for us there to get another crooked number for us.”

The Eagles hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh with two outs, but it was too late as a deep fly ball was caught in left field to end a complete game for pitcher Daniel Rodriguez.

The Lions’ starters completed each game to help preserve the rest of the arms for Thursday’s decider. In game one, Burnett struck out seven and allowed just two earned runs, and Rodriguez struck out four and allowed three earned in the second.

The Lions returned for game three of the series for a shot at their first state semifinal appearance and won 12-1. They begin their run in Murfreesboro on Tuesday, May 19. For Tribune coverage of Thursday’s series clincher, see the Citizen Tribune Weekend Edition or visit online at www.citizentribune. com.