South Aiken proved they can win big on Friday (they won by 11) and on Tuesday they proved they can win the close ones too. They sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 7-6 win over the Aiken Fighting Green Hornets. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Thoroughbreds have posted since April 30, 2025.
Grady Allen made a big impact no matter where he played. On the mound, he pitched four innings while giving up four earned runs off three hits. He has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't given up more than two walks in four consecutive appearances. He was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-4 with one run, one double, and one RBI.
Jackson Smith
| 04/21/26 vs Aiken | 2 |
| 04/07/26 vs Strom Thurmond | 1 |
| 04/01/26 vs Gray Collegiate Academy | 1 |
| 03/25/26 vs Gilbert | 3 |
In other pitching news, Jackson Smith looked comfortable as he pitched four innings while giving up just two earned runs off three hits. What's more, he posted two strikeouts, the most he's had since back in March.
Back at the plate, Nick Starlings was excellent, going 3-for-4 with one stolen base, one run, and one RBI. He has become a key player for South Aiken: the team is 3-1 when he posts at least three hits, but 6-12 otherwise. Another player making a difference was Kyle Erford, who went 3-for-5 with two runs and one double.
South Aiken pushed their record up to 9-13 with the win, which was their third straight at home. The home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 12.7 runs over those games. As for Aiken, their defeat dropped their record down to 13-8.
South Aiken will have a chance to go back-to-back against the Fighting Green Hornets: the pair's next game is a rematch scheduled at 7:00 p.m. on Friday.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
