Graydon Leonard pitched six innings of one-run ball and GCMS rallied past Mt. Pulaski 3-1 to advance in a Class 1A Sectional semifinal game from Arcola on Wednesday. 

Leonard struck out eight and walked two while permitting five hits. Zeb Greer struck out two and worked around a walk to close out the win. 

Luke Martin doubled in the only run for Mt. Pulaski in the third inning but was thrown out trying to stretch it to a triple. 

The Falcons got the run back in the fourth inning when Parker Ballie scored Conner Kinzinger to tie the score at 1-1. 

A two-run error cost the Hilltoppers in the fifth when the Falcons went up 3-1.

Martin was 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI for Mt. Pulaski. Eric Cooper, Chance Payne, and Preston Cowan had hits for the Hilltoppers.

Cooper took the tough luck loss for Mt. Pulaski. He struck out eight in five innings. He allowed three unearned runs on six hits and did not walk a batter. 

The Hilltoppers end their season 22-7 overall.