No. 4 Sulphur opened the high school baseball playoffs with a 2-1 nail-bitter over Northshore, but its offense has been on fire since to get the Tors back to the state tournament for the first time since 2018.

In their last four games they have scored 39 runs on 50 hits.

“The kids are fired up and playing with a lot of emotion right now,” head coach Sam Moore said. “I think that is always a good sign this time of year. They feel real confident. Northshore did a great job against us. We were hitting on all cylinders after that.”

The Tors (32-7) will need another big offensive performance when it takes on No. 8 St. Amant (33-7) in a Class 5A semifinal at 6 p.m. today at McMurry Park in Sulphur. The Gators upset No. 1 and defending state champion Barbe in the quarterfinals.

Cole Poirrier, a Nicholls State signee, hit two home runs in the series and earned the win in the second game. The football quarterback is part of a strong pitching rotation that includes Jacob Mayer and Dallis Moran, a Nicholls State signee.

“They know we are playing a powerhouse in St. Amant,” Moore said. “We know we have our hands full. They have power arms and a good bullpen. They have some good hitters. They are real similar to us.

“It is going to be a well-matched game. I look for a low-scoring game. The team that makes the least mistakes is going to win the game.”

The Tors’ one through three hitters, Jake Brown, Gage Trahan and Bryce Fontenot, are collectively batting over .400 with 20 runs scored and 17 RBIs.

“The key is to get base runners and try to do something with the base runners because they have a power arm — a 92, 94 mph, big, tall right-hander,” Moore said. “We will have to find a way to put the ball in play.”

Class 3A

Second-ranked Iota will look to secure its first trip to the final since 2018 when it plays No. 3 Lutcher at 10 a.m. today.

Iota has won 21 of its last 22 games, led by Arizona signee Tyler Lejeune and Nicholas Duplechain, who has four home runs, 16 RBIs, plus three postseason wins on the mound.