Hilton Head rallied to force extra innings, then claimed a 6-5 walkoff win in the ninth inning to beat Clinton in the opening round of the Dixie Youth Baseball AAA (9-10) State Tournament on Saturday in Anderson.
Hilton Head trailed 4-0 after the first inning and was down to its final two outs before pushing across two runs in the sixth to tie it at 5. They then rallied with two outs in the ninth, as Will Chapman drew a leadoff walk, advanced on Sammy Middleton single, and scored on a Clinton error.
Middleton was 3-for-5, while Ben Eikenberry was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, and Grady Cherrington-Dunton and Jackson Reilley added two hits apiece.
Jackson Richardson earned the win with three scoreless innings of relief, allowing one hit and one walk with four strikeouts.
Hilton Head will face host Central/Clemson at 5 p.m. Sunday.