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Weaver and Forest starter Tyler Cox were locked in a pitching duel until the third inning. That's when the Hornets exploded for 7 runs and erased a 2-1 deficit.
"When we started scoring runs, I felt like we could go to the third round," said Weaver. "It's a very good feeling."
Weaver said he also felt confident on the mound. "I felt relaxed and my arm was feeling good. My curveball was nasty."
Forest coach Hamer Morgan complimented Weaver's performance. "Weaver threw a ton of strikes. We have been a pretty good hitting team but he had a lot of movement on the ball and kept us off balance."
The Bearcats, who won 2 straight division championships, had lost 9-4 to Loyd Star Thursday night at Forest. They took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third as Nathan Reynolds slapped a 2-out, 2-RBI single over second base.
Weaver had scored his team's first run in the second. He was hit by a pitch, went to third on a double to the left field fence by Korey Allen and scored on a wild pitch.
In the bottom of the third, Loyd Star would send 11 batters to the plate. A 2-RBI single by 10th batter Marquis Hayes plated Loyd Star's seventh and eighth runs.
Hayes had led off the inning with a walk. Leebo Bairfield singled over first base and Bubba Keene was hit on the helmet by a pitch from Tyler Cox, loading the bases. T.J. Floyd singled to right field to drive in 1 run and deadlock the scoreboard at 2-2.
The uprising continued as Cody Smith smashed a 2-RBI single to right-center, making it 4-2. Floyd scored on a passed ball and Korey Allen singled to left to load the bases. Tyler Case's grounder scored the sixth run.
"We got another great pitching performance from Drew," said Loyd Star coach Jonathan Breakfield. "Pitching has carried us all year. We are finally starting to hit the ball, too. We have to have hits in the playoffs."
Loyd Star plated its 9th run after Weaver led off the fifth with a double over the rightfielder's head. A throwing error allowed the 9th run to race home.
In the sixth, Weaver added an RBI single to left, making it 10-2.
Cox (5-2), an East Central Community College signee, usually starts at catcher for the Bearcats. He gave up 8 runs and 6 hits, walking 2 and fanning 1.
Matt Evans (2 K, 1 BB) replaced Cox on the mound in the third and finished the game. He gave up 2 runs and 2 hits.
