Class 7A second-ranked and defending champion Bob Jones forced a deciding Saturday contest against sixth-ranked Thompson with a 2-1 Game 2 pitcher’s duel, decided by a wild pitch.

Thompson (27-14) won the first game 6-2. Game 3 will be played on Saturday at 1 p.m.

With the score tied 1-all in the fifth inning of Game 2, Bob Jones’ Mason Rinehart was walked and stole second, followed by a sacrifice bunt and walk to Dillon Adkins. Rinehart scored on a wild pitch to provide the game-winning run for the Patriots (33-10).

Bob Jones pitchers Jack Shaw and Reece Brazeal combined to strike out 4 with 4 walks and allow 3 hits while Thompson pitchers Wyatt Williams and Evan McCrory surrendered only 2 hits with 10 strikeouts and 6 walks in the game.

The Patriots’ Robert Chatmon tied the game in the fourth with an RBI-single after Thompson’s Ashton Blair scored on a passed ball after walking, moving to second on a sacrifice bunt and stealing third in the second inning.

That was it for the scoring with strong pitching ruling the remainder of the game.

Ma’Kale Holden scattered 5 hits and struck out 11 to pitch the Game 1 victory and belted a 2-run homer in the first inning to give the Warriors a lead they wouldn’t lose.

Holden was 2-for-3 with a walk while Anderson Harris was 3-for-4 with a solo homer and run-scoring single.

Wyatt Williams had a 2-run double and scored a run.

Zack Johnson stroked a solo homer for Bob Jones and Mick Tyrrell was 2-for-3 with a double.

Tanner Hermesch struck out 9 in the loss.