MANVEL — Elkins was determined not to let history repeat itself against Pearland. But the Knights were nervous. Things began to take a similar feeling to Game 2 on Friday, in which the Oilers overcame a four-run deficit in the seventh inning to win and force Game 3.
With the bases loaded and Elkins clinging to a three-run lead Saturday, pitcher Rex Garner induced a fly ball off the bat of Pearland's Jordan Bunch as the Knights held on to beat the Oilers 4-1 at Manvel High School in Game 3 of the teams' Class 5A Region III quarterfinal series.
The Knights (29-9) advance to the regional semifinals where they will face Cy-Fair next week at a time and place to be determined.
"The kids were down after the loss (Friday) night — you could have heard a pin drop on the bus ride home," Elkins coach Rick Carpenter said. "But they showed up (Saturday)."
Garner threw all seven innings in the winning effort, allowing five hits, three walks and striking out five on 124 pitches. He was consistent throughout the game and was able to work out of every jam the Oilers (27-10) presented him, which is one reason why Carpenter let him finish the game.
"I was going to go get him," Carpenter said. "But I stood up in the dugout, glanced out there and Rex (shook his head). I'm big on that.
"I told him, 'One more batter,' and fortunately, that was all he needed."
The third inning was the key offensively for the Knights, when they picked up three runs. The scoring started when Blake Bradbury's single drove in Kyle Bates. Then with two on and two out, Tyler Carpenter belted a two-run triple to make it 3-1.
"I thought to myself, 'I've got to get these runs in,' " he said. "I was sitting on a fastball all the way because they had been throwing a lot of fastballs. I got a fastball high and just put the bat on it."
sam.khan@chron.com
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