Top-ranked Alexandria scored single runs in the first and second innings Monday in Game 1 of the Class 5A championship series, and Andrew Allen made them stand up.

The senior Arkansas State signee allowed just three hits and struck out 11 as the Valley Cubs edged No. 9 Mobile Christian 2-1 at Jim Case Stadium in Jacksonville to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series.

Game 2 is set for 4 p.m. Tuesday. If the Leopards win that one, Game 3 would follow.

“It was a really clean game on both sides,” Alexandria coach Zac Welch said. “How long did it last? 45 minutes?”

It actually lasted longer … but not by much.

Total game time actually was an economical hour and 35 minutes as Allen and Mobile Christian senior Zach McKinion went head-to-head. Allen threw 108 pitches, 70 for strikes. He retired the final five Leopards, four by strikeout.

“It kind of dawned on me that it was the last inning I was going to throw in high school, and I wanted to make it the best I could for me, and everyone involved,” Allen said.

McKinion, who missed his start in last week’s semifinals due to a strained tricep, threw 75 pitches, including 50 strikes. He allowed three hits, walked one and struck out one.

“What a game,” Mobile Christian coach Jason Smith said. “Two really well pitched games. The first couple of innings we put ourselves in a little bit of a hole when we hit two leadoff guys, and that’s really it. Their guy was good. Zach was good and then the game was over.”

Alexandria (31-9) got a run in the first when Eli Barnes was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. The Valley Cubs made it 2-0 in the second when Ty Brown was hit to lead off the inning and came around to score when Nic Thompson singled and then got into a rundown between first and second.

“I think our timing was right there,” Welch said. “That turned out to be the difference in the game.”

Mobile Christian (24-11) cut the lead to 2-1 on Alex Bennett’s sacrifice fly in the third inning. However, only two Leopards reached base in the final four innings against Allen.

“No. 15 (Allen) kept us off the bases,” Smith said. “I don’t know if we got any leadoff hitters on. It just didn’t work out for us today. Tomorrow is a new day, and we are going to do the best we can and, hopefully, get to play two games.”

Key stats: Alexandria – Ian Cartwright, Snow and Thompson had the three hits for the Valley Cubs. Mobile Christian – Damien Gatson, Chandler Carpenter and Carson Cooper had hits.

Missed opportunity: Mobile Christian had a chance to break out on top in the first inning when Gatson walked and stole second. Bennett was hit by a pitch with one out and the runners advanced to second and third on a passed ball. But Allen struck out Gavin Weinshenker and PJ Brown to end the threat.

Did you know? Alexandria’s roster includes 15 seniors.

Next up: Mobile Christian will send Walker Seaman to the mound in Game 2 at 4 p.m. Tuesday to try to even the series. Alexandria is expected to send Tripp Patterson to the hill. Game 3 would follow if the Leopards even the series.

This post will be updated