Christian Olivares connected on a clutch three-run home run in the sixth inning to lift London to a 9-4 victory against Huntington in Game 1 of the Class 3A Division I state semifinals at Buda Hays High School.
The Pirates broke open a tie game with a five-run sixth inning and moved one win away from returning to the UIL state championship game in Round Rock.
London, the defending Class 3A Division I state champion, will look to close out the series in Game 2, scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, May 29, back at Buda Hays.
How the game unfolded
London played from behind after Huntington grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first inning. The Pirates answered with two runs in the second before the Red Devils regained the advantage with two more runs in the third for a 4-2 lead.
London began its comeback in the fifth when Nate Torres doubled and later scored to cut the deficit to 4-3.
The Pirates then erupted in the sixth behind Bryce Phillips and Aiden Salinas, who reached before Olivares’ home run. Max Carreon added an RBI double in the inning, and the Pirates carried an 8-4 advantage into the seventh.
London added another insurance run in the final frame.
Olivares finished 3-for-3 with three runs scored and three RBIs. Carreon went 2-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI and Torres collected two hits, including a double.
Phillips added two hits as the Pirates totaled 12 hits. Dax Williams also doubled for London. The Pirates finished with seven extra-base hits.
Williams earned the win after allowing four runs on five hits over four innings. Elijah Acosta tossed the final three innings in relief, surrendering four hits and no runs while striking out two.
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Olivares leads London baseball to 9-4 win over Huntington in Game 1