FRENCH CAMP — A seven-run first inning propelled Cathedral High School to a 12-1 win against French Camp Academy Thursday night in Game 1 of a best-of-three series.

Cathedral (13-6) returns home today for Game 2 of its second-round series in the MHSAA Class 1A South State playoffs.

Starter Blake Martin went all five innings for the Green Wave, giving up one unearned run on one hit while striking out three. The game was called after five innings due to the 10-runs-after-five mercy rule.

Green Wave head coach Craig Beesley said the seven-run first inning gave Martin plenty of run support to work with.

“I thought we came out and swung the bat well in the first inning to get that big lead, then Blake did a good job pitching with the lead and threw strikes today,” Beesley said.

Cathedral yielded just one run in the bottom of the second inning, but the Green Wave responded in the top of the third with five more runs to take a 12-1 lead.

Caleb Upton and Austin Chauvin both doubled for Cathedral, and Jadarius Anderson had a triple. Upton and Martin both finished 2-for-3, and Thomas Garrity led Cathedral in hitting, going 3-for-4 in the game.

Beesley said getting the win in Game 1 of the series gives his team a lot of momentum going into Game 2.

“It’s especially nice when you win Game 1 on the road,” Beesley said. “We can come home, and we’ve got two home games (today), so that gives us a little confidence going into (today’s) game.”

Game 2 will be at 6 p.m. Game 3, if necessary, will be at 8 p.m.