ATLANTA (Interstat) — Zach Hunt’s two-run single in the bottom of the 10th inning lifted Citadel to a 9-8 victory over Illinois-Chicago on Saturday afternoon at Bobby Dodd Stadium in an extra-inning playoff game.

Hunt’s walk-off hit capped a wild game that saw five lead changes and a combined seven home runs. The Bulldogs improved to 36-25-1, while the Flames fell to 27-29-1.

Illinois-Chicago grabbed an early lead, but Citadel starter Will Holmes kept the Flames in check for most of his outing. Holmes pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing one hit and two earned runs while striking out eight. He left with the Bulldogs trailing 2-1.

The game turned in the bottom of the seventh inning. Citadel trailed 2-1 before Hunt led off with a solo home run to deep left field. Sam Dansky followed with a solo homer, tying the game at 2-2. Lane Tobin later tripled to left, driving in a run to put the Bulldogs ahead 5-2. After a wild pitch scored Tobin, Michael Gibson singled, and an error allowed another run to cross, making it 7-2 Citadel.

Illinois-Chicago answered quickly in the top of the eighth. Will Flanigan homered to right field, cutting the lead to 7-3. Then Ashton Kampa hit a two-run homer, his second of the game, pulling the Flames within 7-5. In the top of the ninth, the Flames tied it when Wright homered to right, making the score 7-7.

Each team had a chance to break the tie in the ninth, but both bullpens held. In the top of the 10th, Kampa struck again, hitting his third home run of the game to deep right field, giving Illinois-Chicago an 8-7 lead.

But Citadel rallied in the bottom of the 10th. Anderson walked, and Gibson walked, moving Anderson to second. A sacrifice bunt advanced both runners. Hunt then singled to center, scoring both Anderson and Gibson to end the game.

Kampa finished 3 for 5 with three home runs and three RBIs for Illinois-Chicago. Flanigan was 2 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs. For Citadel, Dansky went 3 for 4 with a home run and an RBI, Hunt had two hits including the homer and three RBIs, and Tobin added two hits and an RBI.

On the mound, Illinois-Chicago starter Brandon Bak pitched six innings, allowing no hits but three earned runs with two strikeouts. Zack Millsap threw 2 1/3 hitless innings with two strikeouts. Jared Lessman recorded no outs but allowed no hits or runs. For Citadel, Michael Gibson worked 4 2/3 innings in relief, giving up seven hits and five earned runs while striking out eight.

The game was a rematch of sorts after Illinois-Chicago lost 22-5 at Georgia Tech the previous day. Citadel had won four of its previous five games, including a 3-1 victory at Samford on May 23.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Citadel 7, Illinois-Chicago 6. Interstat’s ELO system gave Illinois-Chicago a 50.10 percent probability to win.