WILSON n Evan Holton drove in the winning run with an RBI-double in the top of the seventh to lift Lawrence Academy.

Holton’s heroics came in the second game of the North Carolina Independent School Athletic Association state 1-A championship series and gave the Warriors a 5-3 win.

Lawrence opened the scoring with one run in the top of the third inning.

Chad Whitehead reached on an error. Courtesy runner Jay Spencer then went to second on a wild pitch and advanced to third when J.T. Lilley singled to left. Spencer scored when Jake Mitchell reached on an error.

Wayne Country Day countered with one run in the bottom of the same inning, scoring on an error to tie the game at 1-all.

The Warriors edged back ahead in the top of the fourth frame.

Holton reached on a fielder’s choice and advanced to second on an error. He then scored on a T.J. Johnston RBI-single to left as Lawrence gained a 2-1 edge.

The Chargers surged to the lead with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Travis Davis had an RBI-single for WCD and another run scored on an error as the Chargers led 3-2.

Lawrence deadlocked the game with a run in the top of the sixth.

Johnston, Judd Whitehead and Lilley had back-to-back-to-back singles to load the bases. Johnston then scored on a Mitchell RBI-single to right and tied the score at 3-all.

The Warriors took the win when they scored two runs in the top of the seventh.

Daniel Oliver singled to left and Joe Harrell singled to right. Oliver scored on Holton’s RBI-double which also sent Harrell to third. Harrell then scored on a Johnston sacrifice fly to give the Warriors the 5-3 win.

Judd Whitehead got the win by pitching seven innings and allowing three runs on seven hits. He struck out one.

Lawrence had 14 total hits paced by Johnston and Lilley with three hits each.

“We showed good composure,” Warriors Head Coach Robert Kravitz said. “This was a good comeback win.

“Judd pitched a great game,” he added.