AHOSKIE – Farmville broke open a tie game in the sixth inning and edged Hertford County 11-9 here Wednesday afternoon.

The non-conference baseball outing was deadlocked at 8-all in the sixth inning before the Jaguars went on to victory.

Farmville opened the scoring with six runs in the top of the first, but HCHS answered with three of their own in the same frame.

Michael Burton had an infield single and went to second on a Heath Britt single to center. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch before Andre Lyles delivered a two-RBI single to center. Lyles scored on an error on the play to get the Bears within 6-3.

HCHS took the lead with four runs in the bottom of the second inning.

Grayson Toms singled before Corey Saunders had a bunt single. Both advanced on a Ryan Matthews groundout, giving the Bears runners at second and third.

Toms scored on a Burton RBI-groundout and Saunders scored on a Britt single to center.

Britt went to third on a Lyles double down the left-field line. Both runners scored when Edward Joyner reached on an error to give the Bears a 7-6 advantage.

Farmville tied the game with a run in the top of the fifth, but HCHS went back in front with a run of their own in the bottom of the same inning.

Jacob Dunlow singled to left Latrael Ashe did the same. Both advanced on a Toms fielder’s choice. Dunlow scored when the pitcher made a wild throw by second. Ashe was thrown out at the plate to end the inning with the game tied at 8-all.

Farmville took the lead for good with a run in the top of the sixth and then added two in the top of the seventh.

The Bears added one in the seventh, but it wasn’t enough.

The run scored when Lyles reached on an error and Joyner got on board via a fielder’s choice. Pinch runner Travis Ellis went to second on a wild pitch and then scored on a Dunlow double to left-center.

A strikeout and groundout ended the contest.

Matthews pitched all seven innings and suffered the loss for Hertford County.

The Bears had 13 hits, led by Britt with three. Burton, Lyles, Dunlow and Saunders had two hits each.

“Ryan pitched well and showed a lot of heart,” HCHS baseball boss Chris Towell said. “We fell behind early and we battled all game long.

We were behind 6-0 and had a chance to win in the seventh,” he added.

Hertford County dropped to 4-9 overall with the loss.