St. Paul’s got a complete game from Bradley Irish as well as a couple of insurance runs in the top of the sixth inning as the Saints defeated Demopolis 3-1 in Game 2 of a Class 5A best-of-three series at Bussie Greer Stadium on Monday afternoon.

The win evened the series at one game apiece, forcing a deciding Game 3. Play was halted in the bottom of the second in the deciding game because of rain, followed by lightning while St. Paul’s was up to bat. After a 90-minute delay, umpires decided to call the game because the field was unplayable.

RELATED: State semifinal pairings

“I’ve been at this a long time, and I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Saints veteran coach Andy Robbins. “This is the fourth time we had to get the field ready (after a rain delay).”

Irish scattered seven hits and struck out seven and allowed only one unearned run in Game 2. Tate Johnston had a two-run double and Cade Houston scored on an error.

Coleman Fuqua was the losing pitcher for Demopolis, lasting 5.2 innings while allowing three runs on four hits while striking out five.

St. Paul’s went up 1-0 in the top of the first when Houston scored from third on an error. The Saints threatened to add more runs in the fifth when they loaded the bases with one out, but Fuqua worked his way out of the jam when he struck out John Stowers and got Edward McLeod to fly out.

In the sixth, however, the Saints added to their lead when Johnston drove in two runs with a line drive double to make it 3-0, chasing Fuqua off the mound.

Demopolis finally got on the board in the bottom of the seventh when, with one out, Mac Bradley hit into a fielder’s choice with runners on first and third. But two batters later Irish struck out leadoff hitter Montgomery Freeman to end the game.

“Bradley threw well, and he did what he had to do in the bottom of the seventh,” said Robbins. “The runs we had in the sixth were big with the hit down the line.”

Game 3 begins at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, weather permitting. The winner will play Holtville in the state semifinals later this week.