Myles Maxedon belted a go-ahead home run and Andrew Donaldson turned in a near-perfect relief appearance, helping the Effingham Hearts post an 8-5 victory Wednesday at home over South Central.

The Hearts trailed 5-2 when they came to bat in the third. Gauge Massey and John Harper both walked and Camden Raddatz singled to drive in the first run of the inning. After Quest Hull walked, Max Hardiek lifted a sacrifice fly and Maxedon then drove a 1-1 pitch over the centerfield fence for a three-run homer to cap the five-run inning.

Donaldson came on in relief in the fourth and was outstanding. The junior lefthander retired 12 of the 13 batters he faced. The only baserunner he allowed was a hit batter with one out in the sixth. He struck out three to record the win. Massey started and pitched the first three innings.

The Cougars jumped out to a 4-0 start in the top of the first. Aidan Dodson had a two-run double and Beau Jolliff smacked a two-run homer.

But the Hearts scored single tallies in the first, second and fourth.

The Hearts improved to 10-8. They will return to action Saturday with an Apollo Conference doubleheader at Charleston.