The last time Pike Liberal Arts and Lee-Scott met on the baseball diamond, it took 15 innings to decide a winner.

In the rematch, it took the Patriots half that time to take the season series away from the Warriors, thanks to a 7-1 win.

The victory keeps PLAS in the running for the region championships and No. 1 seed in the upcoming AISA playoffs, as the team improves to 29-4, and 11-1 in region play.

“We really didn’t hit the ball too well (Thursday),” head coach Butch Austin said.

“Slowing pitching always gets us. But a win is a win. We are just in a little lull here. I don’t it’s because of the loss (to Glenwood) but I think our guys are a little tired. Still, we got a win that we needed.”

Coming off a disheartening loss to Glenwood, the Patriots were looking for a bounce back game against the Warriors.

And thanks to a steady diet of strong pitching and timely hitting, the result would end in the home team’s favor.

On the mound for PLAS was their No. 1 starter, Sam Carroll.

Coming into the Thursday afternoon showdown, Carroll was 6-1, winning six-consecutive decisions.

That trend would continue thanks to a complete game performance, where the right-hander struck out nine, while giving up just one run on five hits.

“I think I did alright till the later innings,” Carroll said.

“The strike zone had me confused on some pitches, but I pitched better then I did the first time we played (Lee-Scott). Every game is a must win right now, and we did what we needed to do to get that win (Thursday).”

Carroll’s dominant performance carried over to the plate, where the senior went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, one in the fourth inning and one in the sixth inning.

PLAS got off to a fast start thanks to one swing of Nick McLaughlin’s bat.

In the bottom of the first inning, the junior centerfielder up the Patriots up 2-0 with a two-run shot to left-center field.

McLaughlin would strike again in the fourth inning, with a bases loaded stand up double, which would drive in two more runs to give PLAS a 4-0 lead.

All but one Patriot got a hit against the Warriors. Blake Floyd finished 2-for-2 with a single and double while Lawson Stewart finished 1-for-2.

Andrew Quincey scored three runs as well.

“It was huge for us to be able to bounce back from a loss,” Floyd said, “especially, a region loss.

“We got a big region win. Every game, at this point, means something. They are all huge in determining what spot we get in the playoffs. I think we got our heads on straight now.”