LINDEN — Marengo Academy (15-4, 2-0) picked up an area win in dominating fashion Thursday with a 15-2 victory over Patrician Academy.

The game followed up a 9-8 win the Longhorns had over South Choctaw Academy Monday, a contest that was much closer the MA head coach Jonathan Lindsey preferred.

“We struggled a little bit earlier in the week,” Lindsey said. “I challenged them to come out and play a whole game and they did.”

The Longhorns played that whole game for four and a half innings before bringing a premature end to the contest with the 10-run rule victory.

Marengo allowed two runs in the top of the first inning before rebounding with a pair of runs in the home half of the opening frame.

The big rally came in the bottom of the third when the Longhorns hung an eight-spot on the scoreboard. The big blow in that frame came in the form of Justin Beverly’s three-run homer.

MA rounded out the scoring in the latter half of the fourth with a five-run rally to put the game out of reach.

“We’ve got a lot of seasoned guys out there,” Lindsey said of his team, which tallied 12 hits in four innings. “They’ve been with me a while. They know what I’m expecting.”

The win keeps the team’s momentum moving forward as it heads into a weekend double-header against No. 1 ranked Glenwood Academy and No. 2 ranked Edgewood.

While this weekend’s game would be a considerable boost to the team’s momentum and confidence, Lindsey said he is more concerned with the Longhorns’ upcoming area contests, which carry with them playoff implications.

“We can throw our better arms at Edgewood and Glenwood,” Lindsey said. “But I’m not going to let them labor because we’ve got three area games next week.”

Jacob Dunn struck out four and allowed only two hits while walking one and plunking two in five innings of work Thursday.

Matt Etheridge set the table at the top of the lineup, going 3-for-4 with four stolen bases, three runs scored and an RBI. Kevin Pritchett went 1-for-3 with three runs and a walk. Mason Rogers was 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, three RBIs and two runs scored.

Trevor Johnson was 3-for-4 with two doubles, four RBI and a run scored. Chris Sammons went 0-for-2 with two RBIs, a pair of walks and a run scored.

Matt Wallace was 1-for-3 with a stolen base and a run. Jacob Dunn scored a run and was hit by a pitch three times. Jamey Clements went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored while Beverly was 1-for-2 with the home run and two runs scored.

“Right now we’re playing good ball,” Lindsey said. “But if we can keep rolling through the playoffs, I’ll be proud of them no matter what happens.”