Allen Community College rallied late on Wednesday to defeat Highland 5-4. Game 2 was the Scotties' turn to rally as Highland scored 11 runs from innings 5-9 in an 11-3 win as the schools open a four-game series.

Allen Community College was able to take advantage of its scoring opportunities against Highland Wednesday, scoring five runs on four hits, including a go-ahead RBI single by Garrett Rusch in the bottom of the sixth, of a 5-4 victory.

But those same opportunities in Game 2 of their doubleheader weren?t as productive. Allen led early, 3-0, but ran into trouble in the fifth and lost, 11-3.

The home split sends the same two teams to Highland on Saturday to wrap up the four-game series.

Red Devil head coach Clint Stoy pointed to a dropped fly ball in the second game as the turning point, after the Red Devil outfielders lost the ball in the sun.

?When you drop a fly ball in college, it?s gonna lead to four or five runs, which it did,? Stoy said. ?The sun was tough, but we practice for that.?

Allen entered the top of the fifth with a 3-0 lead, and eyes on a much-needed sweep.

But the dropped fly ball, with two outs led to two more Scotties runs after Highland had taken a 4-3 lead.

Allen threatened to score on multiple occasions after that, putting two runners on base with nobody out in the fifth and loading the bases in both the eighth and ninth innings, but each scoring opportunity ended without further damage.

The Scotties added to their lead with home runs from Sergio Fierro, Zach Knowlton and Conner Titus.

?We just didn?t hit like we needed to,? Stoy said.

Red Devil starter Elias Muller pitched shutout baseball through the first four innings, but ran into trouble in the fateful fifth inning. He wound up striking out two, while surrendering nine hits. Manuel Toro came on in relief, scattering five hits over 3.1 innings with a pair of strikeouts. Brayden Thompson struck out one in his inning of work.

Allen?s three runs came in the second on a walk to Parker Martin, Logan Martin?s single and an error off the bat of Tyler Martin to load the bases. The three Martins scored on a wild pitch and a two-run error, pushing Allen ahead 3-0.

Logan Martin had two of Allen?s four hits, both singles. Parker Martin and Cale Clark added singles.

GAME 1 was much more palatable for Red Devil fans.

Two walks to lead off the first led to Armando Navarro?s RBI grounder for a 1-0 lead.

The Scotties tied the score in the top of the second, but Allen responded in the bottom of the frame. Logan Martin was hit by a pitch with two outs and scored on Rusch?s RBI double.

Mees Robberse walked with two outs in the third. He moved up to third on Parker Martin?s single and then stole home as part of a double-steal.

Highland knotted the score with two in the fourth, and then forged ahead, 4-3, in the top of the sixth.

Allen took full advantage of a pair of hit batters in the bottom of the sixth. Logan Martin?s squeeze bunt brought home Parker Martin, a play that moved pinch runner Colton Ayres into scoring position.

Rusch, given the green light to swing away with a 3-0 count, did so and pulled a single through the left side to score Ayres.

Relief pitcher Saul Bolivar retired Highland in order in the top of the seventh to earn the save.

Red Devil starter Jack Bland picked up the win, throwing six strong innings. He scattered eight hits and struck out three.

Rusch paced the Allen offense with a pair of doubles. Parker Martin also had a double. Anthony Talpa singled.

?We showed some fight, even in the last inning of the last game,? Stoy said. Hopefully we can get a sweep or at least a split on Saturday.?