Thompson’s D’Marion Terrell blasted a fourth-inning grand slam in Game 2 and the second-ranked Warriors held off a late rally to split a doubleheader with No. 1 Bob Jones – 3-5 and 7-6 – in Thursday’s Class 7A quarterfinal series in Madison.

“Our backs are against the wall the entire season and we’re able to get one big hit,” Thompson coach Frankie Perez said. “Not throwing strikes got us in trouble again, but we were able to escape.”

Thompson (29-11) won its first-round series against Spain Park on a walk-off grand slam in the decisive game.

In Thursday’s nightcap, the Warriors fell behind 2-0 after the first half of the second inning, allowing a first-inning run on an error and an RBI double from Bob Jones starting pitcher Tanner Hermesch, but first-round series hero and Alabama commitment Ma’Kale Holden cut the advantage to 2-1 on a solo home run to lead off the bottom half of the second.

Holden earned the win in the nightcap, allowing 3 runs on 3 hits and striking out 7 in 4.2 innings of work.

Terrell scored on a single by Ethan Crook, tying the game in the third inning, and drilled a line drive out of right field for the go-ahead grand slam in the fourth. Crook brought Troy signee Drake McBride in on a double to give the Warriors a 7-2 lead heading into the fifth.

“It was two outs at the time and I just wanted to pass the bat to the next guy,” Terrell said. “I was sitting on a change-up that at-bat. I knew he was heavy on that the first time I faced him so I sat on it and caught a barrel. It takes a load off your shoulders knowing you got guys that can pick you up.”

The Patriots added a run in the fifth on a bases-loaded walk and pinch-hitter Myles Hammond ignited a rally in the seventh on an RBI ground out. Hermesch pulled Bob Jones within a run on a 2-out, 2-run homer but Jacob Pearl flew out to end the threat.

Hermesch was also tagged with the loss after allowing 7 runs on 7 hits while collecting 4 strikeouts and issuing 4 walks.

“I’m really proud of our guys, down five and kept battling and battling,” Bob Jones coach Jared Smith said. “We had the bases loaded in the fifth, in the sixth, competed hard and got it within one and had the tying run at the plate. Couldn’t be more proud of the way they competed.”

Bob Jones (39-7) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning of the opener, scoring on a single from Alabama commit Zack Johnson, a fielder’s choice and Gresham Baker stealing home, and shot ahead 5-2 on a solo home run from Mississippi State signee Braden Booth and a single from Johnson.

Booth earned the win for the Patriots, allowing 3 runs on 6 hits while striking out 7 in a full 6 innings, and Thompson’s Wyatt Williams took the loss.

Stat sheet: Bob Jones – Booth went 2-of-4 in the doubleheader, scoring 3 runs and hitting a solo home run, Hermesch was 2-of-2 with a 2-run homer in the nightcap. In the opener, Baker was 2-of-3 at the plate while scoring twice and Tennessee commit Dillon Adkins was 1-of-3 with an RBI fielder’s choice. Thompson – Terrell was 3-of-4 in the nightcap and hit 2 singles before belting the go-ahead grand slam in the fifth inning. For the doubleheader, Holden was 3-of-7 with a 2-run double and a solo homer, followed by Crook with 2 RBIs and a 3-of-8 showing at the plate.

Coachspeak: “I’m not shocked it’s at a Game 3 with two teams like ours and Thompson’s. It’s a battle and it was a battle last year. I like our chances tomorrow. We’re set up pretty good, pitching-wise, and hopefully we play well and continue to advance.” – Bob Jones’ Jared Smith

“At the end of the day, when you play great teams like Bob Jones, stuff like this is going to have to happen. We had a couple of chances in the first game to beat them, too. It’s supposed to be a battle like this, a 1- or 2-run game every single game. I’m proud of the guys for finding a way to survive to tomorrow. It should be a very good game against two very good teams.” – Thompson’s Frankie Perez

What’s next: Bob Jones and Thompson will play a deciding Game 3 at 4:30 p.m. on Friday with the winner advancing to a Class 7A semifinal series.