TYLER, Texas - Atlanta rebounded in the rubber game of its Region II-3A semifinal series in commanding fashion.
Senior Jackson Warren pitched a two-hitter and faced just one over the minimum, and the Rabbits poured on the offense to run-rule Grandview, 10-0, in six innings Friday at Mike Carter Field.
Atlanta (24-9) advances to the regional championship round against either Elysian Fields or Gunter. Those teams play Game 3 today.
Warren handcuffed the Zebras, whose season ended at 29-8-1. He Needed just 57 pitches over six innings of work, struck out four and walked none.
Atlanta broke open the game with seven runs over the fifth and sixth innings.
With the Rabbits leading 3-0, Warren singled to left with one down in the fifth and stole second. A fielding error allowed Kelby Smith to reach, and Ty Graf smashed a stand-up double into the left field corner to drive in both runs, prompting the second pitching change by Grandview.
Nick Burden bunted for a hit, and the throw to third, in an attempt to get courtesy runner Kameron Dickerson, went down the foul line for a run-scoring error. Randall Mason's single to left put runners at the corners, and Dex Ebarb drove in the fourth run of the inning with his sac fly to center.
Three errors and Graf's single scored three more runs in the sixth for the Rabbits.
Atlanta got on the scoreboard in the second and chased Zebra starting pitcher Josh Clover from the game.
After falling behind 0-2, Graf worked an 8-pitch at-bat and grounded a single into center. Burden also faced an 0-2 count but doubled the seventh pitch of his plate appearance into left field to put two in scoring position with no outs.
Mason brought in the first run with a sac fly to right, and Ebarb lined a single to right to stake the Rabbs to a 2-0 advantage. Clover finished the inning, stranding one, but was replaced to start the third.
Smith worked a two-out walk for Atlanta in the third, swiped second base and scored on Graf's line-drive single to left. Burden walked on four pitches to keep the inning alive, but a groundout left two on to end the frame.
Warren had faced the minimum through eight batters, despite the game starting on an error by the Rabbit defense. That runner was erased by an inning-ending 1-6-3 double play on a come-backer back to Warren, who retired the side in order in the second and the first two of the third.
Zach Gilliland, the No. 9 batter who had five RBI and a 3-run home run in the Zebras' 8-1 win Thursday to tie the series, lined a single to left. A flyout to center left the runner on to end the inning.
Donnie Dycus singled to lead off the fourth for Grandview, but Graf threw him out, attempting to steal second.
Graf was 3 for 4 with a double and 3 RBI, Burden was 2 for 2 with a double, and Warren was 2 for 4 at the plate.