Sutton Hull watched last year as a freshman and saw a Katy team that dominated in the first two rounds of the playoffs fall short in the regional quarterfinals.

He saw the pain every player on varsity went through and how they felt their season was cut short.

So when Katy was in the same position on Saturday, Hull wanted to make sure that the outcome was different, and make sure he and his teammates didn’t feel that pain.

Sutton stepped up to the plate in extra innings of a tie game Saturday between the Tigers and Taylor in game two of their regional quarterfinal matchup with a runner on and delivered a walk-off RBI double, leading the Tigers past the Mustangs, 3-2,  in a thrilling matchup that saw great baseball played from both teams.

“I remember watching last year, seeing how devastated they were,” Hull said. “I knew and they knew that’s not how their season should have ended, and I didn’t want to feel that way this year. I’m just glad I was able to help my team."

Katy took game one of the series 3-0 behind three runs in the top of the seventh inning, and the game two win did not come without drama either, as the Tigers had to come from behind twice in the game to earn the victory.

“Everyone in the dugout has that belief that the next guy up can get it done, and fortunately we were able to,” said Katy head coach Tom McPherson. “I think that belief in each other got us through, but I’d like to score more runs. Our pitching staff has been outstanding, but we have to hit better if we are going to get to that next level.”

Both starters had strong games to keep their teams in it. Caleb Koger pitched six innings for Katy, allowing six hits and one earned run while striking out four and walking two. While Jared Schaeffer pitched 7.1 innings for Taylor and allowed three runs on five hits while striking out five and walking three.

Parker Kidwell pitched the final two innings of the game for Katy, striking out two and walking one without allowing a hit.

Taylor struck first in the second inning as Adam Fitzgerald hit an RBI triple to drive in Tyler Irving. But Katy tied things up in the bottom of the fourth, and it was Sutton Hull who did the damage by hitting a double to drive in Parker Kidwell, who had singled earlier in the inning.

“We just have this great chemistry,” Kidwell said. “We just love coming out to the ballpark and playing for each other. You can see it when we go down, we come together, no one blames each other. We just get better and get after it.”

Taylor retook the lead in the next inning on a Carson Marshall RBI single, but when it mattered most, Katy had the answer. As they loaded the bases and Brady Englett drew a walk in the bottom of the sixth to tie things.

Neither team could find a run in the seventh, leading to the game going to extra innings.

Taylor was unable to score in the eighth. Leading to Katy’s chance to take the win.

Kidwell led off the inning with a double to deep left field, after a Jhonnatan Ferrebus strikeout, Hull stepped up to the plate and ended things with a double.

“I just wanted to start the inning off the right way,” Kidwell said. “I went up and tried to get us going, our offense had kind of been slow throughout the game and I wanted to get us a big hit. I’m just glad I did that.”

Katy advances to play Strake Jesuit in the regional semifinals.

“It was a great feeling getting that hit,” Hull said. “Just a huge weight lifted off my chest and it was so exciting to help the team get to the next round. We’re going to have to swing it better if we want to keep going though. Our pitchers have done a great job in limiting other teams and it’s on us now to score more runs.”