FROM STAFF REPORTS

The Thompson High School baseball team defeated rival Pelham 9-7 in a Class 6A, Area 10 contest April 1 to run its win streak to eight games.

The Warriors (22-7 overall, 2-0 in Class 6A, Area 10) completed a comeback and clinched the victory with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Ian Murray led Thompson at the plate as he finished 2-for-4 with two doubles. Murray drove in two runs in the victory.

Skylar Estell went 1-for-4 at the plate with a double and drove in three runs. Matt Haskins, Taylor Bria, Alex Henderson and Gus Williford each drove in runs for the Warriors.

Aron McRee (5-0) earned the win in relief after giving up just two hits with three strikeouts and two walks in four scoreless innings on the mound.

Mason Morris started on the mound and allowed earned runs on four hits with two walks in 1 1/3 innings. Jake Hester allowed two earned runs on one hit with two strikeouts and three walks in 1 1/3 innings. Henderson earned his second save of the season after closing out the game with a strikeout for the final out.

Reed Bright led Pelham at the plate as he finished 2-for-4 with a home run and drove in one run.

Parker Curry finished 1-for-3 and drove in two runs.

Hunter Soleymani took the loss in relief after giving up two earned runs on six hits with seven strikeouts and six walks in 4 2/3 innings.

Thomas Lowery started on the mound and gave up five earned runs on four hits with two strikeouts and two walks in one inning.

Pelham (17-10 overall, 0-2 in Class 6A, Area 10) jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first inning when Bright hit a solo home run to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.

Thompson answered with four runs in the bottom of the first inning to take a 4-1 lead.

Haskins led off with a single. Murray advanced him to third with a double before Henderson walked to load the bases.

Williford drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game at 1-1. Estell then doubled to drive home Murray, Henderson and Williford.

The Panthers scored four runs in the top of the second inning to take a 5-4 lead.

Thompson answered with two runs in the bottom of the second inning to reclaim a 6-5 lead.

Chad Collum had a lead-off double to center field. Haskins then singled to drive home courtesy runner Alex Carter. Henderson later singled to drive home Haskins.

Pelham scored two runs in the top of the third inning to take a 7-6 lead.

After being held scoreless in the third and fourth innings, Thompson pushed three more runs across the plate in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 9-7 lead.

Conner Gill and Haskins each walked. Bria reached on an error that allowed Gill and Haskins to score the game-tying run and game-winning run, respectively.

Murray then doubled to right field, which drove home Bria and gave the Warriors an insurance run.