Vina splits with Decatur Heritage

VINA — Vina picked up its first playoff victory under coach Greg Hamilton with a 7-0 victory against Decatur Heritage Friday night.

The victory celebration was short-lived, however, as the visiting Eagles used a three-run first inning in the second game to earn a 3-2 win and force a deciding third game today at 1 p.m.

Brent Townsend picked up the win for the Red Devils in the first game, pitching seven innings. He did not record a single strike out.

“When you get 21 outs without a strike out, you’ve played well defensively,” Hamilton said. “Brent’s control was tremendous.”

Townsend and Morgan McCarley each scored a pair of runs for Vina while Adam Pharr, Channing Haithcock and Patrick White also scored.

McCarley took the loss in the second game. He pitched seven innings, allowing two hits and striking out eight.

Nick Schmittou scored in the second inning to cut the deficit to 3-1 and Pharr scored in the fourth to pull the Red Devils within one run.

Vina stranded four runners in the final three innings, and three of those runners were in scoring position.

Adam Pharr will pitch in today’s win-or-go-home game. The winner will advance to play the winner of the Shoals Christian-Phillips series next week.