Brock broke a tie with three runs in the top of the seventh inning as the Eagles knocked off Corpus Christi London 5-2 in a Class 3A state semifinal game on Friday at Dell Diamond in Round Rock.
The Eagles (35-3) will play for the 3A championship at 9 am Saturday.
This is the program’s eighth appearance at the state tournament and third in the past four years. This is their fourth trip to the title game (2001, 2006, 2022). They have one title under their belt – beating Hughes Springs in the 2A final in 2006.
London beat Brock in the 2021 semifinals 7-2 and in the 2022 final 16-13.
On Friday, the Eagles scored two runs with two outs in the second inning. A hit by pitch and two walks loaded the bases and Jesse Rusinek doubled down the right field line to plate two runs. Brock starting pitcher Evan O’Connor issued a one out walk in the London second before getting a fly out to second and fly out to left.
London threatened with two runners on in the third but a fly out to left center ended the inning. London put a runner on in the fourth and fifth innings, but O’Connor kept them off the board.
O’Connor’s day was done in the sixth when he ran into some trouble.
London brought up eight batters in the sixth and scored two runs on three hits and one error to tie the game. Back to back singles started the inning before Cam Harris came in relief of O’Connor. Harris got his batter to fly out to right before a single to third turned into a throwing error that scored one.
A batter was hit by a pitch followed by a Harris strikeout for the second out. Then London tied it with a bases loaded hit by pitch before Harris got a force out at second that ended the damage.
Brock started the seventh with a walk to Canon Lightfoot. Sawyer Strosnider singled to right field that put runners on second and third. Harris was intentionally walked to load the bases then Cooper Massey walked in the go-ahead run. After the first out, Jake Windle reached on a fielder’s choice and a bad throw to home scored two runs as Brock went ahead 5-2. Harris got the win and improved to 6-0 with one hit allowed in two innings.
Both London’s runs were issued to O’Connor, who allowed three hits in five innings.
