Trojans rally past Liberty Christian 12-9 behind Sam Jackson's grand slam

Tree of Life Christian School broke open a back-and-forth game with two decisive swings and held on for a 12-9 win over Liberty Christian on Tuesday at home. The biggest moment came in the fourth inning, when Sam Jackson launched a grand slam to put the Trojans back in control, and the winning run came later when Jackson followed Bubba Jackson's leadoff double in the sixth with an RBI single.

The Trojans set the tone early by jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, but the game did not stay clean or comfortable. Tree of Life finished with eight hits and committed six errors, allowing Liberty Christian to stay within striking distance through the middle innings. Even with the uneven stretches on both sides of the ball, the Trojans did enough offensively to separate when their chances came.

Sam Jackson turned in the standout performance at the plate, going 3 for 4 and delivering the game's biggest hit with the fourth-inning grand slam. He also produced in the sixth, lining a single that brought home the go-ahead run after Bubba Jackson opened the inning with a double. Bubba Jackson added an efficient 2-for-2 day, while Shep Cradic went 2 for 3 and supplied extra-base production with a double of his own.

Those contributions helped Tree of Life overcome a game that featured both offensive lulls and defensive mistakes. The Trojans managed only eight hits in the win, but timely contact made the difference. The fourth inning changed the rhythm of the afternoon, and the sixth provided the final push as the lineup answered again when it needed a run.

In the end, Tree of Life left with a six-run victory because of its ability to capitalize on key moments. Sam Jackson's grand slam gave the Trojans a jolt, and his sixth-inning RBI single, set up by Bubba Jackson's double, supplied the go-ahead run in a 12-9 win over Liberty Christian.