SOUTH AIKEN 6, AIKEN 4

 

Just as quickly as Aiken High appeared to be on the verge of a comeback win, South Aiken sent its rival to defeat.

Aiken fell behind 4-0 early in Tuesday's game before battling back to tie it up heading into the sixth. There, the host T-Breds struck again with two more runs, then held on in the seventh for a 6-4 win in the Region 4-AAAA opener.

 

Corley Cheeks came through for the T-Breds (2-0, 1-0) in the sixth, driving in two after his teammates loaded the bases with no outs against Aiken starter Bryan Melvin. Tanner Mills, Braydon Farmer and DJ Ludwick reached base to chase Melvin, and Cheeks rudely greeted reliever Treshaun Prupis by quickly plating the go-ahead runs.

 

That came an inning after Prupis had tied the game with a two-run single off Mills, on in relief of South Aiken starter AJ Deibel. The Hornets scored three in the top of the fifth after loading the bases with one out against Deibel. Landon Dupert's sacrifice fly made it a 4-2 game before Prupis squared it up.

 

South Aiken got off to a hot start, scoring twice in the first and third innings. Jesse Sanders singled home Cheeks, who led off the game with a single and advanced to second on an error, to make it 1-0, and Tucker Rabun's sacrifice fly brought in William Griswold for a two-run lead.

 

Aiken (2-1, 0-1) struggled to connect against Deibel early, with two hits and four strikeouts through three innings, and South Aiken padded its lead with two more runs in the home half of the third. Sam Swygert laid down a sacrifice bunt to bring in Sanders, and Rabun scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-0.

 

The Hornets found their way on base in the top of the fourth, drawing three consecutive one-out walks to load the bases. Will Parrott reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Prupis, to get Aiken on the board.

 

Mills went 2⅔ innings and allowed two hits while striking out two to pick up the win. Deibel pitched 4⅓ and allowed two hits with six walks and five strikeouts.

 

Melvin pitched five innings, striking out five and walking six while allowing five hits. Prupis allowed a hit and struck out two in one inning pitched.

 

Aiken resumes region play Friday at Midland Valley. South Aiken is off until next Tuesday when it visits North Augusta in a region game.