American Legion Post 109 junior legion pitcher Ryan Greene fires a pitch in the late innings of a 8-7 victory over Lancaster. The win allowed Post 109 to even the playoff series. The junior legion team travels to Lancaster on Wednesday and Friday to play games 3 and 4 in the series. Post 109 American Junior Legion held off Lancaster Tuesday for a 8-7 victory in extra innings.

Alex Trammell scored the winning run in the ninth inning when Jonathan Smith walked with the bases loaded to force in the decisive run. Trammell led off the ninth with a walk. Jared Mills was hit by a pitch.

Grayson Goforth grounded into a fielder's choice to move the runners to second and third.

Matt Gaut was intentionally walked to load the bases. Smith then drew another walk to force in the winning run.

"Our hitters showed great patience at the plate," Post 109 American Junior League coach Travis Clary said. "They made the Lancaster pitchers work hard and forced them to throw strikes."

The Post 109 junior legion team scored four runs in the fourth inning to erase an early 2-1 deficit.

Goforth started the rally with a single. Gaut reached on an error and Smith singled to load the bases. Clay McKowen hit a 2-run RBI single. The junior league team scored its other runs in the inning on a walk and wild pitch.

Smith pitched six innings for Post 109. Ryan Greene pitched three innings in relief to earn the win.

"Both pitchers did an excellent job," Clary said.

Post 109 and Lancaster are tied at 1 game apiece in the junior legion playoff series.

Post 109 travels to Lancaster on Wednesday and Friday for game 3 and game 4 the series. Both games will be played at 7 p.m.

If necessary, the deciding game 5 will be played in Gaffney.

Post 109 dropped the playoff series opener Monday, 8-6. Lancaster scored six runs in the last two innings to erase a 6-2 lead by Post 109.

"Lancaster started hitting the ball too well in the last couple innings and battled back to get the best of us," Clary said.

Gaut had the only two hits for Post 109 in Monday's playoff game. Gaut had a 2-run RBI double. The junior legion team scored its remaining runs off walks by Lancaster.

Post 109 faces a critical game Wednesday against Lancaster.

"Today's game is huge for us. No one wants to be down 2- 1 and have to win two straight games," Clary said. "I look for our players to be ready to play. Hopefully, we can win the series in Lancaster."