By KEITH WHITMIRE / The Dallas Morning News

ROUND ROCK – Colton Cain continues to do the heavy lifting for Waxahachie.

Cain hit a two-run homer and tossed a five-hit shutout to carry Waxahachie to a 6-0 win over Birdville in a Class 4A state semifinal Wednesday at Dell Diamond.

Cain, a left-handed junior, struck out 12, including 10 of the last 14 batters he faced.

"He's pretty good, isn't he?" Waxahachie coach Tracey Wood said. "He's so tough. He kind of symbolizes this whole group. He's just a little more talented than some of the others."

Waxahachie (32-8) advances to meet Corpus Christi Calallen (41-1) in today's 4A state final at 6 p.m. at Dell Diamond. Calallen beat Friends- wood, 7-1, in Wednesday's other 4A semifinal.

Cain showed his strength at the plate in the first inning with an opposite-field home run for a 2-0 lead. Waxahachie scored another run on a groundout by Marshall Davis to make it 3-0 before Birdville took a turn at bat.

An RBI single by Brad Davis scored Derek Junkin from second in the second inning.

Waxahachie got its fifth run in the fifth inning after Cain hit one to the gap in right-center, where the sign reads 407. He scored on a misplayed grounder to short.

With a five-run lead, Cain then showed his strength on the mound in the sixth inning. Birdville was positioned for a rally with its 3, 4 and 5 hitters due up. Cain struck them all out.

Waxahachie's defense got Cain out of jams in the first three innings – including bases-loaded, no-out situations in the first two frames – by turning three straight double plays. Birdville also had runners picked off twice.

"The first few innings, I couldn't find a zone. I was leaving the ball up," Cain said. "I made an adjustment on my curveball, and I was able to control my fastball for strikes."

Birdville (32-11) committed three errors, all of which contributed to runs, in its first state tournament appearance. Starting pitcher Duncan McAlpine allowed seven hits and struck out seven in a complete game.

Birdville stranded seven and couldn't take advantage of five walks issued by Cain.