O'FALLON - A six-run fifth inning doomed the South Callaway Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs (25-6) - ranked seventh in the state - led 2-1 heading into the top of the fifth in Wednesday night's Class 3 semifinal game at CarShield Field before the No. 3 Summit Christian Academy Eagles broke it open.
The Eagles held South Callaway to just five hits in their 11-7 victory to advance to the Class 3 championship game.
South Callaway will play No. 10 Scott City (22-8) in the Class 3 third-place game at 10:30 a.m. today. Summit Christian faces sixth-ranked Mountain Grove (24-5) for the Class 3 state title at 1:30 p.m.
Mountain Grove advanced to the championship after demolishing Scott City 12-1 in the first Class 3 semifinal Wednesday.
Summit Christian center fielder William Finch led off the top of the fifth with a single to center. David Becerra was hit by a pitch in the next at-bat and Zane Vanatta came in as a courtesy runner. Luke Moehle hit a bunt single to third to load the bases for Russell Cook.
Finch scored when Cook was safe on an error, tying the game at 2-all. James Sutberry drew a one-out walk to force home Becerra and put the Eagles in front to stay. Moehle then scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-2, with Cook and Sutberry both moving up on the play.
Senior starter Robert Suhr followed up by delivering a two-out, bases-clearing double to right to extend Summit Christian's advantage to 7-2.
The Bulldogs got a run back in their half of the fifth when sophomore third baseman Dylan Lepper drove in freshman shortstop Peyton Leeper with a two-out double to center. The Eagles stretched their advantage to 10-3 after producing three runs in the top of the sixth.
South Callaway tried to rally late by scoring four runs in the bottom of the inning. Sophomore first baseman Landon Horstman led off by reaching on a dropped third strike. Freshman second baseman Drake Davidson drew a one-out walk and freshman designated hitter Tyklen Salmons followed with an infield single to load the bases.
Helsel drew a two-out walk to force home Horstman. Leeper drove in Davidson and Salmons with a single to center to pull the Bulldogs within 10-6. Helsel then scored on a single to center by Leeper.
Summit Christian Academy added its final run in the seventh.
South Callaway grabbed an early lead by tallying a run in the first. Helsel reached on an error and came around to score on Leeper's double to right.
The Eagles tied the game with a run in the top of the second. Moehle drew a leadoff walk and Daniel Clark came in as a courtesy runner. Clark advanced to third when Russell Cook bunted and was safe on an error. Matthew McWillliams slapped a double to right to score Clark.
The Bulldogs took back a temporary lead in the bottom of the second. Horstman hit a leadoff double and moved to third on senior catcher Cameron Richardson's groundout and then scored when Becerra threw the ball past third on the play to put South Callaway in front 2-1.
Leeper was 2-for-3, Lepper went 2-for-4 and Horstman was 1-for-4.
Junior starter Graysan Peneston (7-2) took the loss for South Callaway. Peneston allowed four earned runs on seven hits in four innings, struck out two and walked three.