It was déjà-vu for the First Presbyterian Christian Academy baseball team. Their home game Thursday against Memorial Day was exactly like their away game on March 27. Both times they lost to the Matadors, 6-5, falling short despite late-game comebacks.
The Matadors drove in three runs in the first inning to take a quick lead. In the bottom of the inning, FPCA had runners on first and third when Jake Lee smashed a double and 2RBIs to bring the home team within one.
In the top of the third, with two outs and runners on base the Matadors hit a low line drive. Highlander pitcher DJ Jefferson stopped on the ball, but overthrew first. The Matadors capitalized on the error and scored two runs to go up 5-2.
In the bottom of the inning, Jefferson walked and Darius Tilghman hit a single. Tilghman then stole second and James Phillips brought in Jefferson on a sacrifice fly to center field, bringing FPCA to within 2.
Tilghman was in scoring position when Lee walked and then stole second. But the Highlanders left the runners on base on a strikeout.
In the sixth inning, the Matadors added a run off a shot to deep center to go up 6-3. During the Highlanders’ at-bat, James Moon walked and Lee nailed another deep shot. Moon rounded second and was called to third by the Highlander coaches. But the Matadors’ outfielder made a strong throw, getting Moon out at third. Lee advanced to second during the play and stole third. A wild pitch let Lee score. With another runner on, Kyle Hill hit a line drive down the third baseline to get a RBI and bring the Highlanders within one run (6-5).
The Highlanders retired the batters in the top of the seventh. But the Matadors caught every hit in the bottom of the inning to seal the win.
Jefferson pitched the first three innings. Tilghman came in the fourth and finished the game. FPCA is scheduled to play at Pinewood Christian in Bellville on Thursday.
They have their final home senior night game tentatively scheduled for Monday, May 5, at 5 p.m. against Coastal Home School. Should there be a need to re-schedule the senior night game, it will be held Tuesday May 6.