WINDSOR – Bertie scored 10 runs in the bottom of the fourth to break open the game and went on to defeat Hertford County 18-6 here Thursday.

The victory gave Bertie their fifth win in the Northeastern Coastal Conference this year, but did not affect the Bears’ post-season plans.

HCHS started the scoring right off the bat, plating two runs in the top of the first frame.

Michael Burton reached on an error and scored moments later on Heath Britt’s RBI-triple to right-center field. Britt then came home on an Andre Lyles RBI-single to right, giving the Bears a quick 2-0 lead.

The Falcons answered quickly, however, putting across four runs in the bottom of the opening inning.

Brent Bowen was hit by a pitch, Aaron Hoggard walked and Scott Hoggard singled to load the bases for Bertie.

Bowen scored on a wild pitch and Aaron Hoggard scored on an error.

After P.J. Schwab walked, both Scott Hoggard and courtesy runner Zeek Williams advanced on a passed ball and scored on a Hunter Mizelle two-run single to right.

That broke the deadlock between the teams and lifted the Falcons to a 4-2 advantage.

Bertie added two more runs in the bottom of the second.

Charlie Castelloe singled to right, went to second on a wild pitch and advanced to third on an Ethan Boller groundout.

Aaron Hoggard’s RBI-double to center plated Castelloe. He scored himself on a Scott Hoggard RBI-single that made it 6-2 in favor of the home-standing Falcons.

Bertie continued to add to their cushion with two more runs in the third innning.

Mizelle walked and went to third on an O.J. Dobbin single to right. After Dobbin stole second, Mizelle scored on a Castelloe RBI-groundout that also sent Dobbin to third. Dobbin then scored on a wild pitch to make it 8-2.

Hertford County plated their next run in the top of the fourth inning.

Latrael Ashe singled to right. He then came all the way around to score when a wild throw went by second on a Roger Harrison groundout. That score trimmed the deficit to 8-3.

The Falcons put the game away with 10 runs in the bottom of the fourth frame.

The offensive onslaught began when Schwab singled to center and went to second on a wild pitch. Mizelle’s single to center sent Schwab to third and then Schwab scored on a groundout by Dobbin.

Mizelle took third on the groundout and scored on a wild pitch to make it 10-3.

Castelloe reached on a dropped third strike to continue the inning for Bertie and then Boller and Bowen drew back-to-back walks to load the bases.

They emptied quickly, however, as Aaron Hoggard delivered a three-run double to left-centerfield. Aaron Hoggard then scored when Scott Hoggard roped an RBI-single to center.

Schwab delivered an RBI-single, Mizelle had a two-run triple and Dobbin plated a run on a double to right to provide the final marks of the inning as Bertie took an 18-3 lead.

The Bears got three runs in the top of the fifth.

Ryan Matthews singled to left and went to third on a Burton single to center. Burton advanced on the throw to third.

Matthews scored on an RBI-single by Britt. Burton and Britt then came around to score on a Jacob Dunlow two-run single to right.

The game ended after five innings.

Bowen pitched five innings for the Falcons, picking up the win after allowing six runs on eight hits. He struck out 11.

Dunlow pitched three and two-thirds for the Bears and suffered the loss. Burton threw the final one-third inning.

Bertie had 15 hits on the evening led by Scott Hoggard, Schwab and Mizelle with three hits each. Aaron Hoggard and Dobbin had two hits each and with Hoggard adding four RBIs.

The Bears had eight hits, paced by Britt’s two hits and two RBIs.

“We came out ready to play tonight,” Bertie Head Coach Randy Whitaker said. “We were focused. We took advantage of Hertford County’s mistakes.

“Brent pitched a heck of a game for us,” he continued. “We hit the ball and ran the bases well. I’m proud of the guys.”

Bertie improved to 8-14 overall and 4-7 in the Northeastern Coastal Conference heading into Friday night’s contest with First Flight.

The Bears finish the regular season at 7-5 in the league and 9-14 overall. They will host a playoff game next week in Ahoskie.