A dramatic comeback attempt came up short as the Gray Collegiate baseball team earned a crucial 5-4 win over Airport. 

The win gives the War Eagles a two-game cushion for first place in the region, improving to (9-0) in conference with the win. Airport, (7-2) and (13-2) overall, is now tied with Gilbert for second. 

Gray jumped out to an early lead in this one, scoring two runs apiece in the second and fourth innings. 

Down 4-0, Airport got on the board in the bottom of the fourth after Landon Jeffcoat scored on a groundout from Isahia Clemons. 

Gray added to its lead in the sixth with a sacrifice bunt from MJ Hornsby to go up 5-1. Then the Eagles started soaring back. 

Airport took advantage of a pitching change and scored three runs to cut the deficit to one. 

Zak Perry threw the first five innings for Gray, allowing three hits and two walks with eight strikeouts. Brogan Sox came in and took some time to settle in, giving up two hits, three runs and two walks in two innings. 

Sox gave up a double on the first batter he faced.  That runner scored after a groundout to third from Jeffcoat. 

A pair of walks put two Airport runners on base and Alex Nicholas brought them home on a single. Testing his luck, Nicholas made a sprint for home after Gray struggled to field his hit, but was called for the third and final out of the inning. 

With a 5-4 lead, all Gray had to do was make it out of the final inning to earn the win. The offense scored no runs in the top half, leaving it on the shoulders of Sox and the defense to finish the job. 

Sox shook off the sixth inning mishaps and made up for it in the seventh, securing the game’s final three against four batters. 

Daniel Butts hit a groundout for the first out. Sox secured the second after getting Matthew Perry to swing for a strikeout. 

The Eagles' last shot came after a wild pitch hit Braden Gross, putting the tying run on base. 

Rylan Bullis walked up to the plate with a chance to tie the game or give his team the lead. Instead, Sox locked in and struck him out for the final out, giving Gray the win. 

Gray’s advantage over Airport and Gilbert now sits at two games with about five games left each. The War Eagles and Eagles will face off again next week to decide their season series. 

A sweep for Gray puts the team in a prime position to finish above the reigning region champs. An Airport win ties the series and gives the Eagles hope at reclaiming the top spot. 

Airport and Gray will play again on April 13 at Gray Collegiate.