The third-seeded Murfreesboro Central Magnet School Tigers hosted their namesakes from Lewisburg for an opening round District 12-AA Tournament contest with the threat of severe weather hovering in the late Thursday afternoon sky.

The Central Magnet nine swept the two-game regular season series, but they were in a dogfight on Thursday with the game tied at 1-1 in the sixth inning when the sky turned dark and the wind began to howl, forcing a stop to the game and essentially eliminating the home field advantage.

The contest resumed on Friday afternoon in Nolensville when Marshall County scored three runs in the top of the seventh to secure a 4-1 victory.

John Morgan Thomas’s two run home run was the blow that secured the victory for Marshall County.

Caleb McElhaney started on the mound for Marshall County and gave up one run on four hits, while striking out seven and walking three Central batters to pick up the win.

Logan McKnight came on in relief and picked up the save for the Tigers, who advanced to play archrival Giles County in the nightcap on Friday.

The pitching for both teams was strong as Brady Sengkounmany was on the hill for Central and gave up one run on four hits in six innings before the weather delay.

After four scoreless innings, the MCHS Tigers broke the ice when Peyton Graves led off the fifth inning with a base hit, stole second and gained third on a Ryan Kirby’s sacrifice bunt before coming home on an RBI sacrifice fly to deep center field by Thomas.

With weather conditions worsening, Central put together a rally in the bottom of the sixth inning when Marcus Collins singled to right field, moved to third on back-to-back infield sacrifices and scored on an infield error by MCHS to tie the game at 1-1.

The proverbial bottom fell out on the weather and the game was set to resume at 4 p.m. on Friday at Nolensville.

Eston Cook took to the hill for Central on Friday and promptly retired the first two MCHS Tigers, but Graves slapped a single to right field, stole second and came home on a booming double by Martin Methodist College signee Ryan Kirby to put the Tigers in the lead 2-1.

When asked if he was going to hit the ball to right field Kirby said, “Yes, always, that’s my where my power is, to right field.”

Thomas then slammed a 1-2 pitch over the left field wall and the Lewisburg led by three runs at 4-1.

McKnight came in to pitch for MCHS in the bottom of the seventh inning and Central’s catcher Tripp Knitter led off with a base hit to left and went to second on a bobble in the outfield.

Adam Apigian flied to left field for the first out with Knitter remaining at second base before the final turning point in the contest.

John Cook drove a ball into the hole between third and short where MCHS shortstop Trey Warner fielded the ball and alertly noticed Knitter heading for third base.

With no chance of getting the runner at first base, Warner fired the ball to Carson Cheek at third and he applied the swipe tag, cutting down Knitter for the all-important second out of the inning.

Mason Lanza drew a walk, but McKnight got Collins to hit a soft liner to Warner and MCHS had themselves a 4-1 victory.

After the exciting victory, MCHS coach Mike “Monk” Reese was asked if this was how he planned it and he said, “Well I did tell Kirby he was going to get a big hit for us and asked him if he was ready and he said he was. We kind of let it get away from us Thursday night, so it was good we got the win today.”

Marshall County 000 010 3-4 8 1

Central Magnet 000 001 0-1 3 0

MCHS: Peyton Graves 2-for-4, Ryan Kirby 2-for-4, John Morgan Thomas 2-for-4, JW Beasley 1-for 3, Bryson Hammons 1-for-4.

RS: Graves 2, Kirby, Thomas.

RBI: Morgan 3, Kirby.

2B: Kirby.

HR: Thomas.

BB: Carson Cheek.

LOB: 6

WP: Caleb McElhaney (6IP, 4H, 1R, 0ER, 7SO, 3BB).

Save: McKnight (1IP, 2H, 0R, 0ER, 0K, 1BB).

Central Magnet: Mikey Pletan 1 for 3, Brayden Hopkins 1-for- 3, Trip Knitter 1-for-3, Marcus Collins 1-for-3.

RS: Collins.

SB: Cook.

LOB: 6

LP: Eston Cook (0IP, 3H, 3R, 3ER, 0BB 0SO).

Relief: Mathew Fleischman (1IP, 0H, 0R, 1SO).

Starting pitcher: Brady Sengkounmany (6IP, 4H, 1R, 1ER, 6SO, 1BB).