CENTREVILLE — Corey Gaulden, Casey Haygood and Randy Bell combined to hold Brookhaven Academy to just four hits as the Centreville Academy Tigers defeated the Cougars 3-1 Tuesday afternoon in Game 1 of this MAIS Class AA South State semifinal round.

Gaulden was the winning pitcher as he gave up just one run on three hits with four strikeouts and two walks in five and one-third innings. Haygood relieved him and allowed just one hit in two-thirds of an inning. Bell picked up the save and struck out one batter.

Centreville head coach Jason Horne said he was pleased with the team’s pitching and defense, but not so much with its offense.

“Our pitching and defense has kept us in games lately as it has all season,” Horne said. “We left six runners on (base) tonight. We had the bases loaded with no outs in one inning and had two Ks and a pop-up. We’ve just got to hit the baseball.”

The Tigers broke open a scoreless game in the bottom of the third inning when Gage Chandler hit a two-out double that brought in Mark Curry and John Marcus McDowell. After the Cougars cut the lead in half in the top of the sixth inning, Centreville got that run back in the bottom of the sixth. Bell hit a leadoff double off reliever Gage Posey, went to third on a passed ball and scored on a passed ball.

Zach Dickerson took the loss after allowing two runs on five hits and two hit batters with five strikeouts in five innings. Posey allowed one run on one hit and struck out one batter in one inning.

Centreville Academy (17-5) next plays at 4:30 p.m. Friday at Brookhaven Academy for Game 2 of the best-of-three series. If there is a Game 3, it will follow the conclusion of Game 2.