Annapolis Area Christian School scratched out a four-run rally in the top of the seventh to overtake St. Mary’s, on Thursday night, in a MIAA B conference baseball match-up at Joe Cannon Stadium.

Junior Chris Van Riper picked up his first win for AACS after transferring from Cardinal Gibbons.  Fellow transferee Phil Michael picked up his second save in as many nights.

A night after banging out 15 hits, the Eagles were held to four hits thru six innings by Saints’ starter Danny Nowicki.  Senior catcher Lane Farmer singled to drive in Thomas Williams in the first, and FX Graham tripled in two runs in the second.  A Farmer triple in the fifth that hit the fence below the 380-foot sign was wasted.

AACS scored its lone run in the fifth on the legs of Graham.  On a wild pitch ball four, he advanced all the way to second base.  Graham stole third and came home on another wild pitch.

St. Mary’s took a 2-1 lead in the first on sacrifice flies by Chris Severa and Alex Campbell.  Campbell also singled in the second, plating Danny Usewick, who scored two runs and stole two bases on the night.  Campbell’s squeeze bunt and a subsequent throwing error put St. Mary’s up, 5-4, leading up to the fateful seventh.

Bryan Williams singled to right opening the seventh and advanced to second on a wild pitch.  With one out, Thomas Williams reached on an infield single.  Bryan Williams broke for third on the play, and an errant throw allowed him to score the tie run.  Thomas Williams advanced to third on another error in the continuing action.  He then scored on a wild pitch.  Ridings walked and advanced to second as Farmer reached on another throwing error.  After a double steal, Ridings scored on Eric Mahaffey’s sac fly and pinch runner Tony Villafane scored on another wild pitch.

St. Mary’s brought the tying run to the plate with two out in the bottom of the seventh, but could not score.

Annapolis Area Christian 10, St. Mary’s 8
AACS    120  010  4  —  8  7  2
St. Mary’s    210  020  0  —  5 10 4
Nowicki, Campbell(7) and Armiger; Van Riper, Michael (7) and Farmer.
WP: Van Riper (1-0)       LP: Campbell.     SV: Michael (2)
2B: AACS-Graham, Bradley.
3B: AACS-Graham, Farmer.
RBI: AACS:  Graham (2), E. Mahaffey, Farmer; SM-Severa (2), Campbell (2).