In need of a go-ahead run in the seventh inning, senior Dylan Long helped make it happen with his legs for the Vienna High School baseball squad.

Tied 4-4 with the pesky St. James Tigers, Long played the key role in manufacturing the winning run in the top of the seventh inning to give the Eagles a 5-4 victory at St. James’ Nelson Hart Park.

Earlier in the week Vienna was scheduled to play Crocker, but the game was postponed due to the weather and rescheduled for May 1 in Crocker.

The Eagles, ranked No. 6 in the latest Missouri Class 1 state poll, improved to 7-5. St. James, despite improved play in recent games, fell to 1-10.

This week Vienna was scheduled to play at Laquey Monday, host Stoutland Tuesday and play at Show-Me Central Conference foe Jamestown Thursday (5 p.m.).

April 17 - Vienna 5, STJ 4: The Vienna Eagles struck first against the St. James Tigers by scoring three times in the top of the second inning. Vienna then made it 4-0 with a run in the third.

However, St. James closed the gap with a three-run bottom of the third.

It remained 4-3 entering the bottom of the sixth, when the Tigers tied it up. In the Tiger sixth senior Max Wilson walked and junior Hunter Freeman singled to right field, leaving runners at first and second base with one out. A line drive to rightfield  by senior Trevor Mitchell scored Wilson with the tying run, making it 4-4 going into the seventh frame.

In the Vienna seventh, Long opened with a single to rightfield. Long then stole both second and third base. Hunter Schwartze drew a walk on a 3-2 count to put runners at first and third base.

Schwartze then took off to steal, and the throw to try and peg him at second base sailed into the outfield, allowing Long to sprint home to score what would prove to be the winning run.

The Tigers put the tying run on base with a walk in the bottom of the seventh, but could not get him home.

“I was just thinking I’ve got to get on base, and hopefully the guys behind me can execute,” Long said of the Eagle seventh. “When I was at first (base) I made up my mind it was going (to steal). And when I was on second, the second baseman backed off and I took a jump and went for it.

“Just getting on base and scoring is the key for us.”

Vienna outhit St. James 6-2 and took advantage of five Tiger fielding errors.

Schwartze had two hits and two RBI for the Eagles while Long had two hits, an RBI and scored twice; junior Mason Via had a hit and scored a run, and senior Troy Wulff had a hit.

The Eagles stole six bases - three by Long, two by Schwartze and one by Via.

T. Wulff was the starting and winning pitcher, allowing three earned runs on two hits and two walks over 6 1/3 innings while striking out 12. Schwartze got the game’s final two outs for the save.