When second baseman Scot McKenzie squeezed the final out on a popup to the infield, University High’s players spilled onto the field to join and celebrate with their teammates after one momentous day.
The Cubs, which had lost their previous three games to Parkview Baptist this season, defeated the Eagles twice Saturday to earn the program’s first trip to the state tournament since 2014.
“It’s not easy to get 17- and 18- year olds to believe they can win twice when they’re down a game to a traditionally rich program and good team,” U-High coach Justin Morgan said.
No. 4 University did just that with a 5-3 victory in the opener and followed that with a convincing 11-3 triumph. The Cubs (24-16) advance to meet No. 8 St. Louis in Thursday’s Division II semifinals at 10 a.m. at Sulphur’s McMurray Park.
Grant Upton (6-1) gave U-High a lift in the opening game, allowing six hits over six innings. He yielded three runs, walked none and struck out three before Khristian Paul worked a perfect seventh inning.
The Cubs padded a 2-1 lead after four innings with a pair of unearned runs in the fifth and took a 4-2 advantage in the sixth when the game nearly turned in the Eagles’ favor.
Ross Powers, who made it 4-3 with a run-scoring single, stole second base when designated hitter Darius Jones and Upton locked in a memorable 12-pitch duel.
After fouling off three straight full-count pitches, Jones sent a sinking liner to center that required a diving effort from U-High’s Grant Bonnette for the final out.
“Baseball’s a game of inches,” Parkview coach Daron Mitchell said. “If Darius’ great at-bat falls, he’s still running. It’s that type of game. That’s why you play a three-game series.”
Said Morgan: “If (Bonnette) misses it, then it goes to the fence and maybe it’s an inside-the-park home run. That was enormous.”
U-High, which outhit Parkview 21-13 overall, erased a 2-0 deficit in top of the first with 10 unanswered runs against three pitchers for a commanding 10-2 cushion.
First baseman Manning Greene (2 for 4, 4 RBIs) had his first homer of the year — a two-run shot in the first — left fielder Fox Vidrine (1 for 3) tripled in two runs in the second and shortstop Will Safford went 3 for 3 with a RBI.
Freshman Dylan Carmouche (5-3) got the win, allowing five hits over five innings, two walks and struck out nine. Howard White worked a perfect two innings in relief.
“We asked the kids, ‘why not us?,’ ” Morgan said. “We stayed with the next-pitch approach and stayed in the moment.”