It was a battle of AISA baseball titans between No. 3 Pike Liberal Arts and No. 2 Glenwood. But the Patriots (21-5, 11-2) sure looked like the dominant team as they rode a governing pitching performance by Blake Floyd to a 8-4 win.

Floyd struck out 13 and battled through a late rally to earn the victory.

“My velocity was down a little from the last time I pitched,” Floyd said. “I just concentrated hitting my spots and working my breaking ball.”

Floyd tossed the full seven innings, allowing four earned runs on eight hits.

Pike scored three runs in the second inning to take the early lead.

Josh Starling and Dalton Harris reached base on consecutive walks before designated hitter Reed Dickey laced a 2-RBI double down the right field line. A two-out Glenwood fielding error would later allow Dickey to score himself.

The Gators would get a run back in the top of the third on Chase Silvani’s solo homerun. Silvani would be the lone Gator to earn multiple hits against Floyd.

Dickey and Floyd would strike in the bottom of the inning with RBI hits to give Pike a 5-1 advantage.

Glenwood put together its biggest rally in the sixth. With two outs, the Gator would string together three hits to plate a pair of runs to cut the deficit to 5-3.

The Patriots answered with three runs in the home half.

Chandler Avant walked and would quickly score as Lawson Stewart doubled to left center. Nick McLaughlin reached on a single before Floyd hit his second double of the game. McLaughlin would be thrown out at third attempting to advance. Taytom Barnes would later single home Floyd to cap the scoring for the Patriots.

Glenwood would add a run in the seventh but Floyd would end the game on his 13th strikeout of the game.

“I don’t see any reason why this win shouldn’t help us come playoff time,” Floyd said.

The Patriots have three more region contest before the playoffs begin on April 26.

Pike takes on Lee-Scott on April 12 in Opelika.