Jordan Wilson pitched a gem on the mound while Landon Willard and Richard Steele had key run-scoring singles as the Huntington Hounds defeated the Central Academy Vikings 4-2 to take a 1-0 lead in the MPSA Class A South State Playoffs.

Game 2 of this best-of-three series will shift to Macon Wednesday night at 7 with Central Academy’s season on the line. The Vikings must win to force a third game back at Huntington on Thursday at 7 p.m.

“The key to our win was Jordan Wilson’s performance on the mound,” Huntington head coach Mitch Ashmore said. “This was his first complete game of the season. This was by far his best performance of the year. He threw strikes.”

Wilson held Central Academy to just two runs on three hits, three walks and one hits batsman while striking out eight batters in seven innings of work. He didn’t allow the Vikings to score until the top of the fifth inning.

Huntington (17-11) broke a scoreless tie with one run in the bottom of the fourth inning on a balk by Central Academy pitcher Walker. Then after the Vikings tied the game in the top of the fifth, the Hounds took the lead for good with two runs in the bottom of the fifth.

“Their kid, Walker, threw very, very well. It was nip and tuck until we got the run,” Ashmore said.

The Vikings cut the lead to 3-2 in the top of the sixth, but the Hounds scored a key insurance run in their half of the sixth.

“Landon Willard came up with a big hit that drove in two runs (in the fifth) and Richard Steele came up with a big hit that scored Brant Bradley in the sixth,” Ashmore said. “We were able to close it out. That was a big win at home with going up there Wednesday.”

Heidelberg Academy 2, Trinity Episcopal 1

HEIDELBERG — Heidelberg Academy’s Derek Beach turned out to be a nemesis for Trinity Episcopal, first at the plate and later in the game on the mound as the Rebels defeated the Saints Monday night in Game 1 of their MPSA Class A South State Semifinals series.

Just like against Glenbrook in the first round, Trinity (14-13) faces a must-win situation to keep its season alive. Game 2 of the best-of-three series will take place Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Chester Willis Field in Natchez.

“The story of the game was that we left runners on base. We had our opportunities,” Trinity head coach Matt Mason said. “We didn’t get the big hit when we needed it. We left 10 on base.”

In the bottom of the first inning, Scott Brady, who was 3-for-3, led off with a double and one out later Beach hit a home run to give Heidelberg Academy (24-7) a 2-0 lead.

Then in the top of the fourth inning, Trinity got on the board when Jeremy Waldrop walked and scored on a single by Taylor Hinson. Hinson, who went 2-for-3 reached second on an error, but was stranded there.

The Saints’ best opportunity to either tie or take the lead occurred an inning later. They had the bases loaded with two outs, but Rebels head coach Jim Fries took starting pitcher Colby Reeves out and brought in his ace – Beach, who is a left-hander.

Beach got of the jam by striking out the next batter and in two and one-third innings faced eight batters, striking out seven and walking one on just 42 pitches.

“Beach is a good left-hander,” Mason said. “I’m sure he’s going to pitch on Wednesday.”

Matt Barnes went all six innings for Trinity (14-13) as he gave up two runs on nine hits.

“Barnes pitched a good game for us. He made one bad pitch and gave up the home run. Other than that he was perfect,” Mason said. “The defense was solid. We just couldn’t get the big hit.”