By WESLEY HALLMAN / Sports Editor

The Briarwood Christian School baseball team responded to a one-run loss to Hueytown in the opening game of a best-of-three series in the second round of the Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 5A playoffs with a win over the Golden Gophers in the nightcap of a doubleheader May 2.

The Lions (18-10) will face Hueytown in the deciding third game of the series May 4 at 6 p.m. The third game was originally scheduled for May 3, but was pushed back due to rain.

Briarwood Christian defeated 9-3 in the second game of the doubleheader to earn a split in the doubleheader.

Daniel Robert led the Lions as he finished 4-for-4 at the plate. Robert drove in three runs and scored two runs in the victory.

Matthew Furuto, who drove in two runs and scored two runs, finished 2-for-3 at the plate. Ben Craft went 1-for-3 at the plate and scored one run. Micah Hooper went 1-for-4 at the plate and scored one run.

Cole Pearson finished 1-for-3 at the plate and drove in one run. Dan Thomas finished 1-for-4 at the plate. Carter Tyra went 1-for-3 at the plate and scored two runs.

Logan Crook earned the win after giving up three earned runs on three hits with four strikeouts and four walks in 5 1/3 innings on the mound.

Robert struck out one batter in 1 2/3 innings in relief.

The Lions fell to Hueytown 13-12 in the opening game of the series.

Furuto led Briarwood Christian as he finished 3-for-5 at the plate. Furuto drove in one run and scored two runs in the defeat.

Robert, who drove in two runs and scored one run, finished 3-for-3 at the plate. Ben Craft, who drove in one run and scored one run, went 2-for-4 at the plate. Harrison Foster, who drove in three runs and scored one run, finished 2-for-4 at the plate.

Robby Hale, who drove in two runs and scored two runs, went 2-for-3 at the plate. Crook finished 1-for-4 at the plate and drove in two runs. Hooper went 1-for-4 at the plate and scored one run. Tyra finished 1-for-4 at the plate and scored one run. Pearson scored one run in the defeat.

Will Brown started on the mound and gave up four earned runs on six hits with a strikeout and a walk in two innings.

Thomas allowed three unearned runs on one hit with a strikeout and two walks in two innings. Hale gave up three earned runs on six hits with two strikeouts in two innings in relief.

Cameron Adams took the loss after allowing one earned run on one hit with a walk in 2/3 innings in relief.