Davis Strickland delivered when it mattered most in a pivotal moment for his team.
With two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom half of the seventh inning, the Morgan County senior turned on an inside fastball and launched it over the fence for a walk-off grand slam, capping a stunning seven-run rally in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift the Bulldogs to a 7-3 win over Stephens County in Game 3 of the second-round series.
In a matter of seconds, Morgan County went from the brink of elimination to the Elite Eight.
The Bulldogs trailed 3-0 with two outs and nobody on when the improbable rally began.
Jack Whitlow sparked it with a two-out single with a pair of strikes, then moved to second when a throw was mishandled on Eli Whitlow’s ground ball, giving Morgan County life. Brody O’Neal followed with a single to load the bases, bringing up nine-hole hitter Coley Wesley.
Wesley delivered, lining a single that scored Jack Whitlow and finally got the Bulldogs on the board.
That hit also ended the night for Stephens County starter Landry Williams, who had been dominant throughout the game. In his place came Finley Ward, the same pitcher who held Morgan County in check in Game 1.
This time, the Bulldogs had momentum.
Leadoff hitter Ty Tillery stepped in and ripped a double, bringing home Eli Whitlow and O’Neal to tie the game at 3-3. Wesley advanced to third, and the dugout came alive.
Hudson Reed then reached base on an intentional walk to keep the inning going, setting the stage for Strickland.
Facing a pitcher who had consistently attacked him inside earlier in the series, Strickland was ready.
“That was the guy who pitched the first game of this series, and he pitched me a lot inside,” Strickland said. “So I knew he would come back to it since he was already successful doing it. He gave me the inside fastball, and I was able to turn on it.”
He didn’t miss.
Strickland’s swing sent the ball soaring over the fence, ending the game instantly and igniting a celebration that matched the moment.
“I have no clue,” Strickland said of the feeling. “That was just awesome. I don’t really remember it.”
The rally and the swing that finished it underscored a resilience that head coach Steve Westmoreland has seen grow within his team.
With the Bulldogs down to their final out, a defensive miscue by Stephens County opened the door — a moment that felt familiar to Westmoreland.
“It was eerily similar to our game last year,” he said. “And I just thought in my head, maybe it’s our time.”
From there, Morgan County strung together quality at-bats and turned the lineup over at the perfect moment.
“At that point, you’re like, all right, our dudes — we’re either going to win it, or we’re going to lose it with our dudes,” Westmoreland said. “They found a way to get it done.”
Strickland’s blast was the exclamation point — and one that left no doubt off the bat.
“That was the first ball in this series where we knew it was gone,” Westmoreland said. “Davis put a charge into that one.”
More than just a win, the moment may have changed the way the Bulldogs see themselves moving forward.
“If there was any part of you that didn’t believe you could win a championship, after that, you better start believing,” Westmoreland said.
And after a comeback like that, it’s hard to argue otherwise.