Tallulah Academy had to put in some extra work Thursday, but it was well worth it.

J.T. McDaniel had 12 strikeouts in a complete-game three-hitter, and also singled and scored a run as Tallulah Academy beat Tensas Academy 3-1 in the deciding Game 3 of their MAIS Class 2A baseball playoff series.

Tallulah Academy (20-11) advanced to next week’s South State championship series — the semifinal round of the playoffs — and will face Wilkinson County Christian (13-10). WCCA advanced by beating defending Class 2A champion Briarfield Academy 6-1 on Thursday to complete an impressive two-game sweep.

Tallulah Academy rolled to a 12-6 win in Game 1 earlier in the week, but Tensas won 10-8 in Game 2 on Thursday to force the winner-take-all Game 3 between the district rivals immediately afterward. George Tucker and Cade Hankins had two RBIs apiece for Tensas (13-9). The Chiefs led 10-1 heading to the bottom of the sixth inning, then held on as Tallulah (20-11) mounted a furious comeback that came up just short.

The Trojans carried the momentum into Game 3. Tripp Gayle gave them a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning with an RBI single, and he reached on another hit and scored a run in the third. Caleb Grady added another RBI single in the fifth inning and McDaniel had it from there.

The sophomore allowed one run in the fifth inning, on an RBI single by Hunter Dubois, and not much more. He walked four batters but piled up strikeouts and worked his way out of a big jam in the seventh inning to finish the series.

Tensas’ McCain Rushing and Colton Lardy singled to put the tying run on base with two outs. McDaniel buckled down and struck out Johnny Robin swinging to end it.

McDaniel won a pitchers’ duel with Lardy, who was also outstanding. Lardy allowed seven hits, but only walked one batter and struck out eight in six innings.