John Stowers hit a 1-1 pitch in the bottom of the seventh inning for a two-run homer, lifting Class 5A No. 4 St. Paul’s to a dramatic 6-5 victory over Briarwood Christian in Game 3 of their second-round series.

The Saints (24-9) will play at rival UMS-Wright in the quarterfinal round next week. The Bulldogs held off Elmore County 3-2.

St. Paul’s trailed visiting Briarwood 5-4 entering the bottom of the seventh after having the potential tying run thrown out at the plate to end the sixth.

With one out, Tate Johnston doubled to centerfield to set up Stowers’ heroics. Briarwood finished 20-16.

Taylor O’Dell got the win with a scoreless inning of relief. Seth Staggs took the loss for Briarwood.

The Lions scored a pair of runs each in the first and second innings and never trailed until Stowers’ game-winning blow. Staggs was 3-for-3 with 2 runs scored for Briarwood. Ivan Hand was 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.

The first three hitters in St. Paul’s lineup (Johnston, Stowers and Edward McLeod) drove in 4 of their team’s 5 runs.

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UMS-Wright 3, Elmore County 2

Ty Waters pitched a complete game and struck out 5 as the Bulldogs rallied to edge Elmore County in Game 3 of their 5A series.

Waters allowed 5 hits and 2 runs and walked 2. Gage Davis pitched all 6 innings for Elmore County, scattering 8 hits and allowing 3 runs. He struck out 4 and walked 4.

Manning Amorde gave UMS (19-11) with a two-run single in the bottom of the fourth. Jeff Holston had 2 hits and the other RBI for the Bulldogs. Shea Darnell went 2-for-4 with an RBI for the Panthers.

Elmore County finished 25-11.

UMS will host Old Shell Road rival St. Paul’s in the quarterfinals next week. The teams played just once in the regular season with the Saints winning 2-0.