Nighthawks defeat Hertford County

Published 9:28 am Tuesday, March 24, 2009

AHOSKIE – First Flight built a 9-0 lead here Friday night and went on to a 13-4 Northeastern Coastal Conference win over Hertford County.

The Nighthawks scored nine runs in the first two innings to take a huge lead, but the Bears roared back with three runs in the bottom of the third inning.

Travis Ellis walked in the third followed by a Richard Burns single. Both advance on an error on the play. Daniel Merritt plated both runners with a single to left. Merritt then went to second on an Edward Joyner groundout. He scored moments later on a Brandon Warren RBI-single to right that cut the deficit to 9-3.

The Nighthawks added a run in the top of the fifth and HCHS responded in the home half of the same frame.

Ellis singled to center and stole second before Merritt drew a walk. Ellis scored on a Joyner RBI-single to center. Warren then singled to load the bases, but a flyout ended the threat.

First Flight scored two more runs in the top of the sixth and added their final mark in the top of the seventh.

The Bears had a final threat in the home half of the seventh inning.

Warren singled to center just before Mitchell Godwin drew a walk. With two out, Alden Early walked to load the bases, but a strikeout ended the game.

Tyler Pryor pitched four innings for the Bears while Ellis tossed the final three frames.

The Bears had 10 hits led by Warren, who was 3-for-3. Ellis, Burns and Joyner had two hits each. Merritt had one hit and two RBIs.

Hertford County is 2-3 overall and 0-2 in league play. They will host Northeastern at 7 p .m. tonight (Tuesday).