Jackson baseball team uses big 7th inning to beat Hillsboro in district quarterfinal

The Jackson baseball team never stopped believing on Monday.

The third-seeded Indians scored all of their runs in the final three innings, including three in the bottom of the seventh to come away with a 6-5 victory in walk-off fashion over sixth-seeded Hillsboro in the first round of the Class 5 District 1 tournament at Wilson Rozier Park in Farmington, Missouri.

"Our kids just kept believing," Jackson coach Bryan Austin said. "They fought the entire time, and it really just shows you a lot about our kids and the determination they have. They have a strong will to win."

Jackson will take on second-seeded Farmington in a district semifinal at 6:30 p.m. today. The two teams split a pair of games earlier this season.

"It's going to be a great matchup," Austin said. "... They're a hot baseball team right now, so are we. I think it's going to be one heck of a battle."

An RBI single by Justin Taylor in the top of the first and a home run by Seth Castleman in the third gave the Hawks an early 2-0 lead. Hillsboro (11-15) added a run in the top of the fourth, and Taylor provided another RBI single in the fifth to give the Hawks their largest lead of the game at 4-0.

Jackson (19-10) trimmed its deficit in the bottom of the frame, thanks to an RBI single by Jon Schumer and a sacrifice fly by Cameron Duke.

Jackson second baseman Jonathan Schumer throws to first base to retire the Hillsboro runner during the second inning of a Class 5 District 1 quarterfinal Monday, May 18, 2015 in Farmington, Missouri. (Fred Lynch)

"It was a hard-fought game both ways," Austin said. "We were hitting a lot of balls hard but were just hitting them right at people. We kept saying, 'Hey, stay with the approach. It's going to fall.'"

After an RBI single by Castleman pushed Hillsboro's lead to 5-2 in the top of the sixth, the Indians countered with a two-out RBI double by Ryan Harvey in the bottom of the inning. The senior Harvey batted in the leadoff spot and finished 4 for 4 with three doubles.

"He had a fantastic night," Austin said about Harvey. "He's been hot. He's barreling the baseball, and he's got a ton of confidence. He's been an outstanding offensive player."

Ben Maudie got the three-run rally started for Jackson in the bottom of the seventh with a one-out single to center field. Landon Mills reached on a fielder's choice, and a double by sophomore Jarett Newell, who finished 3 for 4, scored Maudie and moved the tying run to third base.

"He's been in this tournament since last year as a freshman, and he's another guy in the last three weeks to a month who's been really swinging the bat really well for us," Austin said about Newell. "He competes. He has a ton of confidence, and we have a ton of confidence in him right now."

The next batter, Wyatt Eldridge, was intentionally walked, and Mills reached home on an error in right field to tie the game at 5-all. Two batters later, Tyler Slinkard reached on a two-out error, which sent Eldridge home for the game-winning run.

"Right now, they believe in what they're doing," Austin said. "They believe they're going to show up to the park every single day and give 100 percent and compete with the most that they have. They just continue to work on the process and not really worry about the outcomes because if we play hard, compete and do the things we've been doing, we'll be in a good spot in the seventh inning."

Gavon Turner pitched 2 2/3 innings of relief to pick up the win for Jackson. He allowed three hits, one earned run and had no strikeouts and one walk.

Turner replaced Michael Houchin, who gave up six hits, four earned runs and had three strikeouts and three walks.

"Michael competed for us, and he did a great job for us," Austin said. "He felt really good. He just didn't have his best stuff today, and for one reason or another, Hillsboro just barreled him up really well. We made the change, went to Gavon Turner out of the bullpen and Gavon came in and did a tremendous job."

John Wagner took the loss for Hillsboro. He went 1 2/3 innings, struck out two, walked two and allowed four hits and four runs -- two earned.

Brandon Whitehead got the start and pitched five innings for the Hawks. He scattered seven hits, gave up two earned runs and had one strikeout and two walks.

Hillsboro 101 111 0 -- 5 9 4

Jackson 000 021 3 -- 6 11 0

WP -- Gavon Turner. LP -- John Wagner. 2B -- Ryan Harvey 3 (J), Jarett Newell (J). HR -- Seth Castleman. Multiple hits -- Hillsboro: Castleman 2-2, Brandon Whitehead 2-3, Justin Taylor 2-4, Trey Terry 2-4; Jackson: Harvey 4-4, Newell 3-4.