SAN FRANCISCO — In a classic chapter of the city's storied high school baseball rivalry, the St. Ignatius Wildcats delivered a knockout blow when it mattered most, rallying for a dramatic 6-3 victory over the Sacred Heart Cathedral Fighting Irish on Saturday.

The tension reached its peak in the seventh inning with the score deadlocked at three. Chase Gordon, who had already made his presence felt on the mound earlier in the contest, stepped to the plate with ice in his veins and crushed a bases-clearing double that silenced the Irish faithful and propelled the Wildcats to victory.

The Wildcats struck first in the top of the fourth when Atticus Gibson laced a two-run double, followed by Emmett Johnson's RBI single to give St. Ignatius a 3-0 advantage. But the Fighting Irish weren't going down without a battle.

Sacred Heart responded with determination in the fifth inning, manufacturing three runs to erase the deficit. A clutch single knotted the score at three, electrifying the home crowd and setting up the late-game drama.

Archer Horn proved to be the unsung hero for St. Ignatius, coming out of the bullpen to silence the Irish bats with a masterful relief performance. The right-hander tossed 2? hitless innings while fanning five batters to earn the victory. 

Gordon was the ultimate dual threat for the Wildcats, not only delivering the game-winning hit but also starting on the mound where he scattered just two hits and struck out six through 4? innings. Johnson and Gibson joined Gordon with multi-hit performances as part of the Wildcats' balanced attack.

The contest showcased exceptional defensive play from both squads, with neither team committing an error. AJ Wineinger anchored the Wildcats' defense with 11 putouts.

The Wildcats will look to build on their momentum when they host Archbishop Riordan on Tuesday at 4 PM.