DECATUR — It wasn’t the start Newton County Academy wanted.

The Generals entered Tuesday’s contest against Brookhaven Academy with a berth in the MAIS Class AA state title series on the line, but the Cougars tallied 10 hits and eight walks and were aided by three NCA errors in Game 1 of the Class AA South State championship series.

The result was a 12-3 loss for the Generals, who now travel to Brookhaven Academy Wednesday for a 5 p.m. Game 2 in hopes of forcing a Game 3, and NCA head coach Kelly Alderman said he expects his team to play better facing elimination.

“I plan on going down there tomorrow and winning Game 2 at their place and playing a Game 3,” Alderman said. “I feel like if we can get to a Game 3 I’m pretty confident.”

The Generals faced an early 2-0 hole and surrendered another run in the top of the third inning before putting two on the board in the bottom of the third. After Brookhaven Academy pitcher Dawson Flowers began the inning by hitting Dalton Sibley and walking Lincoln Jordan, he induced a flyout struck out the following batter before Ole Miss commit Kemp Alderman came to the plate. The Cougars chose to intentionally walk Kemp Alderman to load the bases, and Hayden West stepped into the batter’s box.

West is used to watching opposing teams walk Alderman to get to him, and like he’s done so often, he made Brookhaven Academy pay by belting a two-run single and cutting the Cougars’ lead to 3-2.

“He’s been clutch all year,” Kelly Alderman said. “We’re all going to hit tomorrow, and the key is throwing strikes, and we didn’t throw a lot of strikes.”

Said West, “It feels great. Obviously they put him on (because) they think they can get me out easily, and I got a hit and scored two runs, so it was awesome.”

Brookhaven Academy got one of the runs back in the top of the fourth, but NCA scored another in the bottom of the frame when Harber Reese was hit by a pitch and Hayden Wall singled to deep left center and advanced Reese to second. Lee Hollingsworth then courtesy ran for Reese, and Hollingsworth stole third and scored on an error.

Unfortunately for the Generals, that was the last of their runs scored Tuesday, and the Cougars weren’t finished. Brookhaven Academy scored seven more runs in the top of the fifth in an inning where NCA was forced to use four different pitchers, including starter Kemp Alderman. The Cougars added one more run in the sixth inning to extend their lead to 12-3.

Kemp Alderman suffered the loss, giving up five runs, four earned, on three hits and six walks in 4 1/3 innings of work. He also struck out six. Hays West surrendered three runs on two hits and two walks in the fifth and never recorded an out, and Alec Thompson was charged with three runs on three hits in 1/3 of an inning. Jacob Smith pitched the remainder of the game for the Generals, giving up one unearned run on two hits while striking out three.

NCA finished with just three hits, one apiece by Hayden West, Reese and Wall. Kelly Alderman said Hayden West will start Game 2, and there were enough pitchers who didn’t throw too many pitches Tuesday to where they’ll be available Wednesday.

“I’m confident we can go down there any win,” Kelly Alderman said. “We’re not going to give up. We’re going to fight to the end, and I feel like these boys will do a good job.”

Hayden West said there will have to be a different mindset if the Generals (17-13) want to force a Game 3, which would immediately follow Game 2 if necessary.

“We definitely have to have a bitter taste in our mouths after that,” Hayden West said. “They think they’ve got it, so we have to go down there tomorrow a little upset and have a chip on our shoulder.”