An 11-run second inning propelled the Brookhaven Academy Cougarsto a 16-7 MPSA District 4-AA win over Columbia Academy Tuesdaynight at Cougar Field. The win improved the Cougars’ overall recordto 12-8, 7-1 and district.

“We came out and executed tonight,” said BA head coach RonRushing. “We came at Columbia and attacked them. We made some greatsqueeze bunts and put the pressure on them. If we stay focused likewe were in that inning, we’re capable of winning some games.”

Columbia pushed across a run in the first inning, but BA tied itin the bottom half when Jeffrey Waycaster, who had walked, scoredon the first of three wild pitches in the inning by ColumbiaAcademy starter and loser Robby Simmons.

The Cougars then blew it wide open with 11 runs in the second. Atwo run single by Ben Sandifer, an RBI single by Waycaster, plustwo great squeeze bunts highlighted the outburst.

“Brandon (Achord) and Lane (Moreton) had perfect bunts, andcaught Columbia Academy off guard,” said Rushing. Moreton’s buntdrove in a run.

The visiting Cougars picked up two runs in the top of the thirdon a 2-run home run by Clint Champagne to cut the lead to 12-3.They added another run in the fourth, but Chad Lagrone got that runback with an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth.

Both teams tacked on three runs in the fifth inning. Columbia’sHunter Broome singled in two runners and Jeremy Miller brought inBroome with a sacrifice fly.

Brookhaven Academy got theirs when Lagrone singled, and laterscored on a wild pitch. Moreton drove in his third run with histhird hit of the night, and Waycaster’s sacrifice pushed across the16th run.

“We got a little slack when we got a 12-1 lead,” said Rushing.”Sometimes its hard to stay focused when the game gets out of hand,but when Columbia cut the lead to 13-7, we regrouped and put itaway in the fifth.”

Moreton was 3-for-3 to lead the BA attack. Waycaster had twohits and drove in three runs, and Lagrone also had two hits. Davisand Sandifer each had one hit for the Cougars.

Champagne and Colby Carter had two hits each for ColumbiaAcademy.

Davis (1-1) went 3 2/3 innings for BA with three strikeouts andtwo walks. He gave up four runs on six hits. Sandifer finished itup with two strikeouts and two walks. He gave up three runs on twohits.

Simmons was the losing pitcher for Columbia Academy.

The Cougars travel to Co-Lin Thursday night at 7 p.m. for a datewith Copiah Academy. They close out the regular season Saturday at3 p.m. at home against Central Private.