BELHAVEN – Ridgecroft scored 10 runs in the top of the seventh to break open a close game here Thursday.

The Rams’ baseball squad used that explosion to beat Pungo Christian Academy 18-4 in a Tarheel Independent Conference showdown.

Ridgecroft took an early lead, scoring one run in the top of the first frame. Jeremy Courtright doubled to right-centerfield and advanced to third on a passed ball before scoring on an Ian Kinlaw groundout.

The Raiders responded with two runs in the bottom of the first to take a 2-1 advantage.

In the second inning, the Rams sent six batters to the plate and were able to tie the game.

Gavin Mizelle started the inning with a double and then took third on a wild pitch. He scored on a Giffin Daughtridge groundout and deadlocked the score at two-all.

Courtright got on due to an error in the top of the third and was able to steal third. Another error allowed Kinlaw to reach first and scored Courtright. Kinlaw then stole second and was driven in on a Bryan Britton RBI-single. Britton was plated on a Wes Ward sacrifice, giving Ridgecroft a 5-2 advantage.

The Rams added two in the fourth. With one out, Dustin Baker singled before Courtright hit a two-run homer to give Ridgecroft a 7-2 lead.

In the fifth, Ward led off with a walk before Mizelle singled to left. A double play left Mizelle as the only base runner before Will Jones doubled him home to give the Rams an 8-2 advantage.

PCA added two runs in the bottom of the sixth to get within 8-4, but the Rams exploded in the top of the seventh, scoring 10 runs to secure the league victory.

Mizelle picked up the win on the mound, going five innings while giving up only two hits. He recorded 10 strikeouts while walking only four batters. Chris Mizelle pitched two innings in relief.

Offensively, Jones, who went 3-for-3 on the day with two single and a double, led the Rams. He also recorded two RBIs. Courtright was 2-for-3 on the afternoon with two doubles and a single and one RBI.

Mizelle (3-for-5), Hill Homewood (2-for-5), Ryan Pierce (1-for-3, homerun) and Baker (2-for-4) also had recorded solid days at the plate for Ridgecroft.

In all, the Rams collected 17 hits, 11 of which were singles with four doubles and two homeruns.

The win boosted Ridgecroft to 5-2 overall. They have the same mark inside the TIC, where they stand second in the league standings.

They will host rival Northeast Academy Tuesday and non-league foe Halifax Academy on Wednesday.