AHOSKIE – Michael Burton and William Barmer drove in four runs each to lead Hertford County to an 18-11 win over rival Northampton County High School – East here Friday.

The Bears opened the scoring with two runs in the bottom of the first. Andy Thompson reached second on a pair of errors and then scored on a Burton RBI-single. Burton was able to take second on the throw home and then went home on a Barmer single to give HCHS a 2-0 advantage.

The Bears opened up their lead in the bottom of the second, scoring five runs to grab a 7-0 lead.

Gary Porter reached on an error before back-to-back singles by Ryan Matthews and Thompson loaded the bases. Burton got one run home on a sacrifice fly before Matthews scored on a two-base error with Heath Britt at the plate.

Thompson and Britt both scored when Barmer had a two-run single to left. Courtesy runner Josh Lane scored, after reaching second on an error, when Ryan Simmons singled.

The Rams plated three in the top of the third to chip away at the HCHS lead. Justin Colson, who led East with four hits and four RBI’s, has a two-run single and another run scored on an error.

Northampton-East then scored five in the top of the fourth frame to take an 8-7 lead.

Colson had an RBI-double while Marcel Goffinton added an RBI-single. Tim Gubitz delivered an RBI-single before Cadaro Cotton plated two runs on a double that gave the Rams their first lead.

Hertford County answered with four runs in the bottom of the fourth. Two runs scored on wild pitches while one run came home on an error. Burton added an RBI-single to help the Bears take an 11-8 lead after four innings.

HCHS then plated six in the bottom of the fifth to take a commanding lead.

Joel Britt and Simmons each singled and then a double steal put them at third and second respectively. Britt scored on a wild pitch before Simmons came around on a Matthews RBI-single.

Thompson singled and Matthews scores on a Burton RBI-single. H. Britt came through with a two-run triple before scoring himself on a Barmer single that gave Hertford County a 17-8 lead.

Each team added one run in the sixth inning. Ty Ard had an RBI-double for the Rams while Matthews had an RBI-single for Hertford County, leaving the Bears with an 18-9 lead.

Northampton-East scored two more runs in the top of the seventh. Colson had an RBI-single while the final run scored on an error.

Leading the Bears offensively were Thompson, Burton, Barmer, Simmons and Matthews, who each had three hits. Colson led the Rams’ 11-hit attack with four hits. Ard and Gubitz had two hits each.

Thompson started and went three innings for the Bears, allowing three runs. Burton pitched three innings for the win, allowing six runs. Matthews went one inning on the mound, allowing two runs.

&uot;We did a good job of hitting the ball tonight,&uot; HCHS baseball coach Chris Towell said. &uot;We got some big hits in this game.

&uot;We need to eliminate mental mistakes,&uot; he added. &uot;We got behind tonight, but we fought back.&uot;

The Bears, now 2-0, will face Gates County at 7 p.m. Friday night in Ahoskie.