AUSTIN -- When Jasper intentionally walked Argyle's Bryson Hudgens to pitch to Hayden Clearman with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth inning of Wednesday's Class 4A state semifinal, Clearman had some extra spring in his step on the way to the plate.
Clearman, who has been on fire throughout the postseason, made the Bulldogs pay with a two-run single to right field, sparking a four-run inning for the Eagles.
The clutch hit was enough to swing the momentum back to Argyle's side as the Eagles went on to claim a 14-4 win at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin.
Argyle will face either Godley (30-2) or Sweeny (34-5) in the Class 4A state championship game at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. The Eagles are now one game away from becoming the first team to finish a season as an undefeated state champion since Lorena did so in 2003.
The game was one of the more dramatic of Argyle's season thus far, as the Eagles were forced to go to the bullpen in the top of the fourth when Baylor commit Sean Bolin aggravated the blisters on his hand that forced him to miss significant time during the regular season.
Sophomore Tate Van Poppel, the son of former major leaguer Todd Van Poppel, pitched his first inning of the postseason and recorded two strikeouts before junior Chad Ricker took over in the fifth.
Ricker allowed an RBI double to Henry McMillion in the top of the fifth that trimmed the lead to 5-3, but he was able to protect the lead which the Eagles then added to with a four-run bottom of the fifth.
Argyle continued its hot streak at the plate in the bottom of the sixth, scoring five runs to force the run-rule victory.
After getting off to somewhat of a rocky start by loading the bases and walking in a run in the top of the first, the Eagles exploded for a five-run bottom of the inning to shift the pressure back to the Jasper dugout. The Bulldogs managed to score a run in the fourth, fifth and sixth but stranded 11 runners on base.
Alex Gonzales led the way for the Eagles and finished 3-for-4 with four RBIs while Clearman went 3-for-4 with three RBIs in the win.
Argyle now awaits the winner of the second 4A semifinal between Godley and Sweeny, which is scheduled to start at 4 p.m.
Argyle 14, Jasper 4 (6)
| Jasper | 100 | 111 | -- | 4 | 7 | 3 |
| Argyle | 500 | 045 | -- | 14 | 14 | 2 |
WP - Chad Ricker (8-0). LP - Michael Soisson (8-2). Records: Argyle (36-0), Jasper (33-8-1).