A seventh inning rally came up one run short for the Redan Raiders in a 6-5 loss to the Mount Paran Christian Eagles in the deciding game of their Class 2A second round series at Redan on Wednesday afternoon.

The Eagles (25-4-1) broke a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the sixth inning behind RBI singles by Braden Gabel, Kyle Crisp and Carter Galbreath to take a 6-3 lead heading into the top of the seventh and Redan’s last chance to force a Game 3 in the best-of-three series.

Colling Brightwell drilled a triple down the right field line with one out for the Raiders and Redan had life. Derek Peoples closed to the gap to 6-5 with a no doubter over the centerfield fence for a two-run homer.

A two-out single by Tyrell Wyatt and a wild pitch had the tying run on second for the Raiders, but reliever Jack Johnson bounced back from the homer to Peoples with a strikeout to end the game and Redan’s season.

The Eagles picked up two unearned runs in the bottom of the first for a 2-0 lead that lasted until the top of the third.

Redan (23-6) bounced back to knot the game at 2-2 on a two-run double by Matt Evans to score Brightwell and Peoples.

Mount Paran regained the lead at 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth on a solo homer to left by Chase Landresser.

The Raiders kept that never quit attitude and tied the game in the top of the sixth on an RBI single by Josh Westbrooks to score Wyatt to make it 3-3 heading into the big sixth inning for Mount Paran (25-5-1).

Redan had 10 hits in the game led by Brightwell (3-4 with a double and triple), Wyatt (3-4 with a double) and Peoples (2-4 with a homerun). Braden Gabel and Henry Akopov were both 2-4 to lead Mount Paran.

Game 1
Mount Paran 4, Redan 1
Mount Paran had another big three-run sixth inning in the 4-1 opening game victory over Redan.

The two teams were tied at 1-1 as the Eagles came to bat in the top of the sixth inning. A sacrifice fly by Galbreath and RBI singles by Henry Akopov and Gabe Hester broke open the game for Mount Paran.

Redan only had one runner reach base over the last two innings, Brett Andrews single in the seventh, as the Eagles’ starter Michael Fredette went the distance allowing just three hits and striking out eight including three of the final seven Raider batters over the last two innings.

Redan took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third as Collin Brightwell was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on an error by the Eagles.

Rhett Barner’s sacrifice fly to score Chase Landresser who had doubles to leadoff the inning made the teams even at 1-1.

Evans, Andrews and Jaden Johnson had the only hits for the Raiders. Chase Landresser was 2-2 with the double to lead Mount Paran.