AHOSKIE – The Red Barons scored eight runs in the top of the sixth stanza and rallied to beat Hertford County High School 18-14 in a non-conference baseball game Friday.

The Bears opened the scoring with three runs in the bottom of the first frame.

Ackerman Grace singled to left and moved all the way to third on a Tucker Warren double. Ryan Weaver then belted a three-run homer over the centerfield fence to give HCHS a 3-0 advantage.

Hertford County added a run in the second.

Bobby Merritt walked and Brandon Terry singled on the infield to put a pair of runners aboard. Merritt and Cody Cobb (a pinch runner for Terry) each advanced on an Eric Ortiz sacrifice. Merritt then scored on a Tyler Burden sacrifice fly to make it 4-0 in favor of the home team.

Gates County plated two in the top of the third inning.

Trey Lawrence and Nathaniel Simpson drew walks and then advanced on a wild pitch. Timmy Whitlow then delivered a two-run double to center to close the Red Barons to within 4-2.

Gates County added three more in the top of the fourth frame.

One run scored on an error and then Trace Buck delivered a two-run single to center to give the Barons a 5-4 edge.

The lead didn’t stand up long, however, as the Bears came back with two in the bottom of the inning.

Merritt singled to center before Cobb delivered a double to right-center. Merritt scored on an Ortiz groundout and Cobb scored on a Burden groundout, giving HCHS a 6-5 edge.

The Red Barons rallied right back, however.

Adison Eure hit a two-run homer to center to make it 7-6 and then Nathan Rofgers was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to make it 8-6 in favor of the Barons.

Hertford County responded by exploding for seven runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Merritt had an RBI-single while two runs scored on a Cobb single to right. Grace then had a three-run double to center  before scoring himself on a Warren single as the Bears led 13-8.

In the top of the sixth, the Barond took the lead for good.

Joseph Stallings had an RBI-single, Brandon Stifflemier delivered an RBI-groundout and Stallings scored on a wild pitch. Joseph Rountree, a pinch runner, also scored on a wild pitch while Simpson had a two-run double and then scored when Whitlow reached on an error. Whitlow scored on a Eure RBI-single that made it 16-13.

The Red Barons added two final runs in the seventh inning.

Rodgers had an RBI-single and Buck delivered an RBI-double to make it 18-13 going into the home half of the seventh.

The Bears managed a run in the seventh when Burden hit  a solo homer to establish the final.

The two teams will square off again Friday when they meet at Gates County at 5 p.m.