Newton County Academy’s Dalton Hollingsworth tags out Wayne Academy’s Hayden Revette as he tries to reach third base Tuesday night in Decatur.

Newton County Academy (20-12) found itself trailing Wayne Academy by six runs in the top of the second inning, but eventually worked through its early game hiccups to carry a one-run lead into the seventh.

The Generals surrendered two runs in the top of the seventh, but were able to scratch out a run in the bottom of the frame to force extra innings.

A two-run top of the eighth propelled Wayne Academy to an 11-10 win Tuesday night, giving the Jaguars a 1-0 advantage in the best-of-three third-round series.

“That was a good ballgame; that was like a heavyweight boxing match,” Newton County Academy coach Kelly Alderman said. “They punched us, we punched them back. I’m proud of my guys. They played a heck of a game, and they never quit.”

Newton County Academy freshman phenom Kemp Alderman went 4-for-4 at the plate, including a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth and a double. Dalton Hollingsworth tallied three hits in three at-bats, and Austin Upton led the Generals with three RBIs. The Generals outhit the Jaguars 13-11.

“Everybody on this team has worked hard,” Kelly Alderman said. “We played good baseball tonight. All of them hit the ball well at times.”

Newton County Academy’s comeback bid was aided by a six-run fourth, bolstered by Upton’s three-RBI double that scored Hollingsworth, Braxton Rose and Dalton Sibley. Zach Joyner plated Upton and Zac Kyzar to tie the score at 6.

“(Wayne Academy) jumped out 6-0 at one time, and we kept fighting,” Kelly Alderman said. “They played hard, and I’m proud of them.”

The Jaguars took a 7-6 lead in the top of the fifth, but Rose knocked in Lincoln Jordan to knot the score at 7 in the bottom of the inning. Rose pushed Newton County Academy ahead 8-7 when he ran home from third base following a Wayne Academy fielding error.

After falling behind 9-8 in the top of the seventh courtesy of two Wayne Academy runs on passed balls, Sibley successfully bunted to score Richard Horton and force extra innings.

Joyner, Newton County Academy’s starting pitcher, went 6 1/3 innings and yielded three earned runs. He allowed nine hits and walked two batters. His night ended after throwing 102 pitches.

Kemp Alderman replaced Joyner in the bottom of the seventh.

“He did really well,” Kelly Alderman said of Joyner. “I didn’t have my No. 1 or No. 2 pitcher tonight.”

Newton County Academy travels to Wayne Academy Thursday, where Kelly Alderman remains confident his team will emerge with wins.

“We’re going to Wayne Thursday to win two games,” he said. “We’re not going down there to get beat.”