Another big lead blown by St. Aloysius has left the Division 7-1A race up for grabs.

West Lincoln rallied from a seven-run deficit for the second time in four days to take the lead in the division after Tuesday night’s stunning 11-9 win over St. Aloysius at Bazinsky Field.

West Lincoln (6-7, 2-1) erased an 8-1 deficit by exploding for 10 runs in the top of the fifth inning. The Bears got eight hits off St. Al’s top two pitchers, Patrick Murphy and Josh Eargle.

First-year St. Al coach Derrik Boland had his team running sprints afterward, driving home the point that baseball can be a cruel game. St. Al previously lost to Puckett after leading by eight runs twice, and they also gave up nine runs in the seventh inning in an 11-8 loss to Riverside.

“The game of baseball is a love-hate relationship,” Boland said. “One minute you’re feeling great, and the next, the rug is snatched up from under you. That’s just baseball. You just have to accept that and move on.”

The loss leaves St. Al (6-12, 1-2) just a game out of first. It also showed the resilience of West Lincoln, which won its second straight division game by roaring back from seven runs down.

“We knew they could come back because they were down 7-0 at Cathedral and came back and won 9-8,” Boland said. “This one loss doesn’t end our season. We have three division games left and we have to come and fight in every one of them.”

West Lincoln coach Steve Barrington said his team made its adjustments in the fifth inning.

“This makes two games in a row where we were down seven runs and came back to win,” Barrington said. “We have good character. By the fifth inning, we finally adjusted to the velocity of their pitcher.”

Through four innings, Murphy had given up eight hits, but only one run had crossed. Solid defense from his infield kept the Bears bottled up.

The Flashes’ offense struck for six runs in the bottom of the second inning and added two more in the fourth for a commanding 8-1 lead.

West Lincoln’s big inning started with a walk. A double by Jonathan Buckley fell safely into right and was followed by an RBI single from Landry Baralow. Another walk, a passed ball, and an RBI single from Brady Wilson made it 8-4.

Murphy finally got an out on a fly ball to left, but that still scored a run to cut the Flashes’ lead to 8-5. An infield single by the No. 9 batter, Hunter Fawrer, was enough for Boland. He took Murphy out and brought in Eargle, who had pitched a gem Friday in a 7-1 win over Bogue Chitto.

Jared Case greeted Eargle with a sharp hit to right center to score Wilson to cut the lead to 8-6. Jeremy Laird popped up for the second out, but Tyler Moak drew a walk to load the bases. Buckley bashed a single to left to score two and tie the game.

The Bears weren’t done. Baralow smacked a double off the fence to plate two more for a 10-8 lead. Jacob Lea capped the rally with the inning’s eighth hit, an RBI single to left center, for an 11-8 cushion.

The Flashes got a run back in the bottom of the sixth when Andrew Collins doubled in Eargle.

Wilson, who came on in relief of West Lincoln starter Jared Case, retired the next two Flashes to get out of the sixth. He retired St. Al in order in the seventh to claim the win.

The Bears finished with 18 hits. Buckley and Baralow went 3-for-5 with five RBIs between them. Moak reached base all five times off three hits and two walks.

Will Pierce led St. Al with three RBIs off two doubles. Eargle reached base four times off two hits, two walks and scored three runs.