But thanks to some unlikely heroes and unlikely plays in field, Holly Springs scraped their way to a late rally and 6-5 walk-off win. The Golden Hawks tied the game on a dropped third strike in the bottom of the sixth and won the game on a walk-off infield hit in the eighth.

Holly Springs (24-2) has a 1-0 lead in the series as it moves to Wilmington (7 p.m.) Friday night.

"There's not a whole lot of quit in this team whatsoever. They really fought back and we found a way," Holly Springs coach Rod Whitesell said. "I don't think we did a lot of great things to win the game but they made some mistakes and we were able to capitalize."

Holly Springs trailed 5-1 in the bottom of the sixth, and confidence was running low after No. 3 and 4 hitters, Justin Manning and Carlos Rodon, were retired in order to lead off the inning.

But the next two batters reached base, setting up a RBI single by No. 7 hitter Kevin Fortier. Ashley changed pitchers, bringing in UNC-Chapel Hill signee Trevor Kelley to face the No. 8 hitter Kendall Thorpe.

Thorpe walked, then No. 9 hitter Mitch Hines did something no one expected with the bases loaded -- he drove in two runs on a single to opposite field.

With the crowd rocking and Holly Springs down by just a run, catcher Joey Roach came to the plate for what was a roller coaster of an at-bat. Roach fought off some early pitches -- then struck out. But the ball went in the dirt and to the backstop, and Wes Conover scored the tying run.

"It was an odd game," Whitesell said. "And that's why you play every out."

After six innings by Manning, the Hawks brought in Joe Mackey, who Whitesell said has pitched fewer than seven innings this season. But Mackey retired six of the seven batters he faced to pick up the win.

In the bottom of the eighth, the bottom of the Hawks' order was due up again.

Fortier singled, Thorpe walked and a passed ball later the runners were on second and third. Hines grounded into a force play at home, but an intentional walk to Roach brought up shortstop A.J. Sconzo with the bases loaded and one out.

Sconzo hit a tapper to the shortstop, but Thorpe got an early jump and slid in for the winning run to complete the Hawks' incredible rally.

"By the time the pitcher picked up his leg I was halfway down the line," Thorpe said. "I was moving."

Holly Springs' 7-8-9 hitters went 5-for-9 at the plate with three RBI and two runs scored. The 3-4-5 hitters went 1-for-8.

"Sometimes (the bottom of the order) struggles, but lately they've been hitting the ball really well," Whitesell said.

Ashley starting pitcher Corey Irwin went 5 2/3 innings for the Screaming Eagles, leaving with a 5-2 lead but two runners left on for Kelley, who also had a RBI double.

Ashley catcher Chance Sheppard belted a two-run homer to deep right field to provide the game's first two runs. Holly Springs' first run came when Rodon scored on a passed ball.

In the top of the sixth inning, Jonathan Kelley -- a VMI recruit -- ripped an opposite-field home run to right field to give his team a 5-1 lead.

Holly Springs will start David Hudspeth (6-0, 1.00 ERA) in Game 2.