What was a close game entering the fifth inning turned into a blowout, as the Central Alabama Community College Trojans defeated the Wallace Community College-Selma Patriots 17-0 at Bloch Park on Tuesday.

Frank Elliott, head baseball coach of Wallace Community College-Selma (9-21), said errors broke the game open, and he had to make some tough pitching decisions down the stretch.

“We had some errors there out at second base that kind of just opened up the game there. Then after that, once they opened up the game, they’re a good hitting team,” Elliott said. “There were a lot of hits out there after that and they capitalized on the mistakes. Pitching wise, I couldn’t see really pulling Jose [Riveria] because we’re playing again coming up and we’re down on pitching — couple of pitchers just had surgery and that kind of stuff, and they’re out for the year. If I throw out all my pitching today, I won’t have any for the weekend.”

The game was scoreless entering the top of the fifth inning, as the Trojans (21-10) got hot when a hit to shallow center field by B.J. Martin allowed Ryan Raspino and Darius Reese to score and make it a 2-0 game.

The Trojans weren’t done in the fifth, as Alex Lee hit a two-run homer to center field that extended Central Alabama’s lead to 4-0.

Central Alabama carried over that momentum to the top of the sixth inning, with an infield hit by Reese being bobbled at second base allowing Garrett Hayes and Blaine Miller to score and make it a 6-0 game.

The Trojans added four more runs in the top half of the sixth, with Reese and Raspino scoring on a hit by Ben Hall, and Zach Rinehart adding a two-run homer that made it a 10-0 game.

Central Alabama scored seven runs in the top of the seventh inning, highlighted by a Tripp Whatley three-run home run.

John Harmon, Trent Jones, and Josh Gunter each had hits for Wallace.

Wallace pitcher Bryce Kennedy struck out two batters in five innings, while Hall also struck out two batters in his six innings pitching for the Trojans.

Wallace will take the field again Friday at Bloch Park against Marion Military Institute starting at 4 p.m.