By MATT COLE/Special to the Reporter

LINDEN — After being down to their final strike in a win-or-go-home game, Marengo Academy pulled out a 7-6 win over Cornerstone Christian to advance to the AISA semifinals.

Wallace Tutt, who was pinch hitting for Tait Sanford, legged out an infield single to allow Brant Lewis to score to tie the game, then a throwing error by the Cornerstone second baseman allowed Weldon Aydelott to come in from second for the game-winning run.

Cornerstone jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a Tim Warren single that scored Heath Garrett and an error by the first baseman that scored Ian Briggs.

Marengo cut the lead in half in the bottom of the first on a RBI sacrifice fly by Kyle Friday that scored Hayden Huckabee.

The Longhorns tied the game in the second on a sacrifice fly by Wyatt Hall that brought in Sanford.

In the third, Cornerstone got their two-run lead back on a two-RBI double by Austin Andrews that scored Briggs and Warren.

Marengo battled back to tie it in the fifth with a RBI single by Friday that brought in Hale and an error by the right fielder that scored Huckabee.

Once again, Cornerstone responded by adding two runs in the sixth. Wesley Brown and Jeffery Odgers both scored on a throwing error by the second baseman.

Marengo got one of the two runs back in the bottom of the sixth on a RBI single by Huckabee that brought in Tyler Barkley.

The winning pitcher for Marengo was Carson Huckabee who pitched two innings and struck out three batters. He allowed two runs, but neither of them were earned. He did not allow a hit.

On Thursday, Marengo split a two-game set with the Chargers.

The Longhorns gave up four runs in the bottom of the seventh to drop the second game of the three-game series.