MENDENHALL — All it took for Lamar School was one big inning.

 

The Raiders plated five runs in the top of the sixth to rally past Simpson Academy 5-3 in game one of a key MAIS District 2-5A series at Cougar Field on Tuesday night.

 

Game 2 of the series will be at Lamar School on Thursday at 6 p.m., and Game 3 will be back at Simpson Friday at 6 p.m.

 

“Getting key two-out hits was big for us, and those hits came two of our big hitters coming through when we needed them to,” said Lamar School coach Matt Boone. “The last two Tuesday night games haven’t been great for us, so it feels good to win game one on the road.”

 

Simpson scored the game’s first run in the bottom of the fourth as Ben Kennedy scored on an RBI groundout by Hendrix Magee.

 

The Cougars extended their lead to 2-0 in the fifth on an RBI single by Kennedy.

 

The top of the sixth inning is when Lamar got things going and all with two outs. Luke Brady was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to cut the Simpson lead to 2-1.

 

Sullivan Reed followed with a three-run triple to deep center field to give the Raiders a 4-2 lead. Jackson Whitcomb followed with an RBI single to right field to give Lamar a 5-2 lead.

 

“That is something we needed. We’ve had slow starts to begin games and to come from behind tonight and get this win was huge for our guys and our confidence,” Boone said. “Ty was great on the mound and now we have to chance to clinch the series on Thursday at home.”

 

Ty Herrington (5-2) got the win on the mound for Lamar tossing six innings scattering six hits, two runs (one earned), one walk, and had seven strikeouts.

 

“This is our district rival, so we came in with a lot of energy, and getting it done on the mound is where it starts so I had to come in and throw strikes and let the defense work behind me,” Herrington said. “Reed has been big for us all year and he came up big with a big hit. This is my first time beating Simpson, so this means a lot.”

 

Sullivan and Whitcomb each had three hits to lead Lamar (19-5, 8-2 MAIS District 2-5A).

 

“I was really sitting curve ball in the at-bat, and I saw a ball up and was able to put the bat right on it,” Sullivan said. “Main thing is we came out slow and have the last couple Tuesday games, but they prepared us for this moment.”

 

Simpson cut the lead to 5-3 in the seventh on a solo home run by Barrett McKenney.

 

Braden Duncan had two hits to lead the Cougars (15-9, 7-3). Ben Kennedy took the loss in relief for Simpson.