Archer Horn was everywhere Friday afternoon.

The St. Ignatius standout went a perfect 3-for-3, stroking hits in three consecutive at-bats to pace the Wildcats to a hard-fought 4-3 victory over Carlmont at Dekker Diamond. Horn singled in the first, doubled in the third, and singled again in the fifth — providing the kind of consistent production his team needed in a game that was never truly comfortable.

The Wildcats wasted little time asserting themselves, but Carlmont made sure this one wouldn't come easy. The Scots clawed back in the top of the third when a ground out to plate a run and knot the game at one.

St. Ignatius answered immediately. In the bottom of the third, the Wildcats erupted for a two-run frame that would ultimately prove decisive. Will Coleman set the table with a double down the left field line, Horn followed with a rope to center, and AJ Wineinger — who finished the day 2-for-3 with a team-leading two RBI — crushed his own double down the left field line. Just like that, the Wildcats had reclaimed the lead and the momentum.

Carlmont never fully faded, but St. Ignatius' pitching staff made sure the Scots couldn't complete the comeback.

Chase Gordon got things started on the mound, dealing a clean opening inning — no hits, no runs, one strikeout. Tycco Giometti then took over and earned the win, holding Carlmont to one hit and one unearned run across two innings of work. Wineinger, pulling double duty as both a key bat and a shutdown arm, closed things out and collected the save. Charlie Stecher also saw time in relief for the Wildcats.

Carlmont's defense was sharp — not a single error on the day.

But in the end, it was St. Ignatius holding the edge, riding nine total hits and a balanced pitching effort to secure the win.

The Wildcats don't have long to celebrate — they're back in action Tuesday against Archbishop Mitty Monarchs.