Senior Scott Kirby’s two-run triple in the bottom of the seventh provided the heroics for Pike Liberal Arts School as the Patriots improved to 3-1 with a 10-9 win over Hooper Academy on Tuesday.

Kirby’s hit came with two outs after Luke Sanders had reached for the Patriots. The ball would have sailed over the fence for a homerun, but its momentum was halted by the left field net at Patriots’ Field.

Hits by Sanders, Kirby, Bill Hughes, Drew Kilpatrick, Layton Sanders, Brady Dunn and Druid Conrad off of Colts’ starting pitcher Van Riggs allowed PLAS to build a 7-3 lead after three innings.

The Patriots spotted Hooper a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Layton Sanders started the game on the mound for Pike, allowing an additional Colts’ run in the third inning. Brandon Hooks came in as relief.

After Riggs was pulled, Hunter Harrison held PLAS to just one run as the Colts scored six runs in the fifth and sixth innings to pull ahead 9-8. Harrison retired seven PLAS batters in a row, before a double by Dunn and single by Luke Sanders broke the streak. The Colts’ pitcher then promptly struck out six of next eight batters, before Kirby’s game winning hit in the final inning.

Luke Sanders led PLAS at the plate, going 5-for-5.

Chad Anderson, Riggs, Taylor Ellis, Trey Kennedy and Harrison all had hits for Hooper.

The Patriots travel to play Edgewood in Wetumpka on Friday night. Game time is at 6 p.m.