CARBONDALE — Prior to Monday’s SIU 1A Supersectional, Goreville head baseball coach Shawn Tripp told senior pitcher Dawson Cloud to be ready if needed out of the bullpen. The Blackcats needed him, and the senior delivered 5 2/3 innings of shut down relief as the Blackcats held on to beat Effingham St. Anthony 6-5 to advance to the 1A State semifinals for the sixth time in the past 13 seasons.

Fellow senior battery mate Ian Sopczak had a big day as well. Sopczak hit a bases loaded two-run single in the first, and when an errant Bulldogs’ throw allowed Tyler Suits and Sopczak, Goreville had a 4-1 lead.

St. Anthony tied the game in the top of the second and had two more runners in scoring position when Tripp made the move to Cloud. Cloud got Connor Roepke to fly out to short right, as Goreville second baseman Hunter Francis ranged out to make the catch, then threw a strike to Sopczak who made a diving tag on Henry Brent trying to score.

After St. Anthony took the lead with a run in the top of the third, Goreville scored twice in the bottom of the third on a bases loaded hit by pitch and an error.

The Bulldogs were in position to tie it in the sixth, but Cole Tripp fielded Beau Adams’ bouncer and threw out Brent at the plate again thanks to another acrobatic tag from Sopczak.

St. Anthony put the tying and go ahead runs on base with two outs in the seventh, but Cloud finished it getting a fly ball to right, setting off a mad celebration.

The Blackcats improve to 22-12 and will face Waterloo Gibault in the first semifinal at 10:00 Friday morning at Dozer Park in Peoria. Newman Central Catholic will take on Henry-Senachwine in the second semi Friday.