SMYRNA - For the third consecutive time, University School of Jackson beat Gibbs 7-0 in the Class AA state baseball tournament at Smyrna High School on Tuesday.

But it wasn't just beating Gibbs again that excited USJ coach Brad Dyer, it was winning the first game of the tournament.

"Winning the first game was important," Dyer said. "It allows you to see if you are ready to play."

USJ came out quickly, scoring two runs in the first inning led by an RBI double by John Wills. Benjie Fesmire followed with an RBI single to right field that scored Wills.

Then in the second inning the Bruins made the most of four errors by Gibbs and scored five more runs.

USJ's Kyle Bryan, Todd Bateman and Hunter Smith had RBI singles for three of the first four runs in the second inning. Danny Grimm had a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Bateman for the third run among the RBI singles.

The final run was scored by pinch runner Dusty Bright on an error by the second baseman.

"It is easier to play when you are scoring," Dyer said. "You have more freedom to swing the bat."

Clayton Gant (9-1) was the starting pitcher for the Bruins. He only went for three innings but did not allow a run or hit and struck out five, including the first three batters he faced. Gant also earned both wins in last year's state tournament against Gibbs.

"I was hitting my spots," Gant said. "The umpires were real consistent with my pitches."

Gant was replaced by Jared Davis. Davis went two innings and gave up no runs on one hit. He struck out one.

Davis was replaced by Fesmire at the start of the sixth inning. Fesmire pitched the final two innings giving up no runs on two hits and he struck out two.

"I came out for rest," Gant said. "We have seven other guys who can win, and we were up by seven runs."

The hitting cooled down for the Bruins after the first two innings, as USJ was only able to get two more hits the rest of the game. Danny Grimm and Preston Overbey got the hits in the fifth and sixth, respectively.

Gibbs got its first hit in the fourth inning on a single by Chris Armstrong. The other two hits were by Elijah Turner and Josh Peters in the sixth and seventh innings, respectively.

Gibbs' Jacob Turner pitched all seven innings, giving up seven runs on seven hits and striking out four.

The win sets up a rematch of last year's Class AA state championship between USJ and Goodpasture, which Goodpasture won 5-4.

USJ has outscored its opponents 58-10 in the postseason.

This is the third loss for Gibbs in the postseason after a 4-1 loss to Seymour in the District 3-AA championship and a 3-1 loss to Anderson County in the Region 2-AA championship.

-Michael Odom, 425-9754

University School of Jackson's Daniel Grimm takes a swing at the ball during the Bruins' game against Gibbs at Smyrna High School during Spring Fling on Tuesday. (ALAN POIZNER /Gannett Tennessee)