AHOSKIE – Bobby Merritt drove in the game-winning run with an RBI-double in the fourth inning here Tuesday.

Merritt’s double and Marvin Harrell’s four-hitter on the mound lifted Hertford County High School to a 2-1 Northeastern Coastal Conference victory over Pasquotank County High School.

The Bears opened the scoring with a run in the bottom of the third inning.

With two out, Harrell tripled to right-centerfield. He then scored on an Ackerman Grace RBI-single as the Bears claimed a 1-0 lead.

The Panthers responded with their only run in the top of the fourth and tied the game at 1-all.

In the bottom of the fourth, Brandon Terry walked. With two outs, pinch runner Jahleel Fleetwood scored on Merritt’s double.

That fourth-inning run held up as the Bears claimed the league win.

Hertford County had eight hits with eight different players recording one hit each.

Harrell pitched the complete game giving up one unearned run on four hits. He struck out 10 and retired the final 11 batters in a row.

“We got a couple of clutch hits for our two runs,” HCHS skipper Chris Towell said. “Our defense was solid and Marvin Harrell pitched a great game for us.

“Conference wins are always big,” he added. “We just have to keep plugging away.”

The win boosted the Bears to 6-2 overall and 2-1 in the conference.

HCHS will host league rival Bertie High School at 7 p.m. Friday.