Southside overcame a four-run deficit to spoil Ellwood Christian Academy’s season opener on Friday.

Donald Richardson scored the winning run on a wild pitch in the sixth inning as the Panthers prevailed 9-8 at Bloch Park.

Southside (4-2) has won two straight games, including a 6-4 victory over Wilcox Central on Thursday.

“The game went well, we had errors from time to time, but we’re getting better,” Southside coach Clarence Smiley said. “Once we learn how to play the game, the wins will come.”

Keterius Jones got the win in relief, striking out 10 over the final three innings. The Panthers used three pitchers.

“I couldn’t have done this without my teammates,” Jones said. “Sometimes I lose concentration, but they kept me focused.”

ECA jumped out to a 4-0 first-inning lead as Gary Crum and Otis Lee each had RBI singles. Lee and Kendrick Price each scored on errors. The Eagles had a chance to increase their lead with the bases loaded, but hit into a double play.

The Eagles (0-1) left 10 runners on base, which proved costly in a close contest. A runner was thrown out at home plate on a wild pitch in the sixth as the Eagles led 8-7.

ECA was in position to the tie the game in the seventh with two outs and a runner on second base. The game ended when the umpires ruled ECA for illegal substitution.

“I thought we fought hard, we had our chances and we didn’t capitalize on them,” ECA coach Migeual Catlin said. “I’m going to have to do some research on that call to end the game. I hated for it to end like that.”