COLUMBIA -- The Blair Oaks Falcons were three outs from losing by run-rule, then they were three outs from winning by three runs.
However, the Willard Tigers had the last chance to bat, scoring four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to win a 15-14 shootout in Friday’s pool-play action of the Columbia Tournament at Hickman High School.
Blair Oaks won 11-5 in its final pool-play game to post a 1-2 record to start the 15-team tournament, which concludes today with bracket play.
Class 4 No. 2 Blair Oaks trailed Class 5 No. 1 Willard 11-1 through four innings. With a scoreless fifth inning, the Tigers would win by run rule.
Instead, the Falcons scored seven runs in the top of the fifth, getting RBI hits from Jake Hagner, Harrison Lear and Warren Davis in the inning.
Hayden Lackman then hit a grand slam to left field in the top of the sixth to put Blair Oaks ahead 14-11.
However, Willard took advantage of having the last at-bat in the seventh, winning on a walk-off single by Jarrett McGee.
Nolan Laughlin went 3-for-5 with a double to lead the Blair Oaks offense, while Lackman finished with two hits and four RBI. Zane Halford added two singles and Brock Buhr drove in two runs.
The Falcons used three pitchers in the loss. Lackman finished with four walks and four strikeouts in two-plus innings, Nolan DeMilia followed with five walks and three strikeouts in 3⅓ innings and Carson Rustemeyer had three walks and no strikeouts in 1⅓ innings.
Blair Oaks jumped out to a 3-0 lead after half an inning against Hickman, then the Kewpies scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to tie the score at 5.
Blair Oaks pulled away for good with a six-run sixth inning, getting RBI hits from Lear, Davis, Owen Schellman and Colten Bryan.
Schellman finished 3-for-4 at the plate with four RBI, while Davis was 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Lackman had a double and a triple, Bryan had a single and a double and Lear finished with a pair of singles.
Kaiden Schulte was the winning pitcher for Blair Oaks. In one inning of relief, he allowed one run on one hit and four walks.
Wyatt Libbert pitched the first 4⅔ innings, giving up four runs (two earned) on two hits with two walks and one strikeout. Hunter Hentges threw the final 1⅓ innings, allowing just one hit.
Blair Oaks (14-4) will play in the third-place bracket today, starting with a 10 a.m. matchup against Eureka at Battle High School.