The Oak Mountain Eagles used offense to win the first game of their best-of-three

series against Hewitt-Trussville on Friday and defense in the second game.

OMHS (27-8) defeated the Huskies by scores of 15-7 and 3-1 to win the series and advance to the third round of the AHSAA, Class 6A playoffs where they will face Clay-Chalkville (31-6) this Friday in another best-of-three series.

Eagles&8217; head coach Tommy Youngblood said his team&8217;s performances on Friday were the tale of two different games.

&8220;We hit the ball very well in the first game,&8221; he said. &8220;And pitched extremely well in the second.&8221;

Bronson McGriff began the first match for the Eagles but had to be pulled in the second inning after giving up three runs.

&8220;Bronson was having trouble throwing strikes for us,&8221; Youngblood said. &8220;It was important for our hitters to step up at the plate and give our pitching some support.&8221;

Kyle Eller came in to replace McGriff and finished the game for Oak Mountain, giving up four runs for his second win of the season.

Eagle pitcher Russ Harper dominated from the mound in the second game, finishing with 10 strikeouts and four hits allowed.

The Eagles&8217; coach said the game&8217;s defining moment came in the second inning when Harper pitched out of a bases loaded, no outs situation without giving up a run.

&8220;Russ did an exceptionally good job for us,&8221; Youngblood said. &8220;He really came through when we needed him to.&8221;

Oak Mountain faces Clay-Chalkville this Friday in the third round of the Class 6A playoffs, hoping to mirror its win against the Cougars in the first game of the season earlier this year.

&8220;A team&8217;s always going to get better as the season goes along,&8221; Youngblood said. &8220;I don&8217;t think Clay-Chalkville will be any different. But that goes both ways.&8221;

Youngblood said he feels confident with how his team is performing going into the series.

&8220;If we continue to do what we&8217;ve been doing, I feel like we have a very good chance of winning the series.&8221;

The Eagles and Cougars face each other for a double-header on Friday, with games scheduled for 4:30 and 7 p.m. The two teams will play a third game at 2 p.m. on Saturday if necessary