AHOSKIE – Nine runs in the third inning propelled Hertford County High School to their first Northeastern Coastal Conference victory this season.

The Lady Bears broke open a 5-3 game and rolled to a 15-3 win over Pasquotank County High School behind the right arm of senior hurler Amber Matthews.

Pasquotank took the early lead in the game, scoring a run in the top of the first, but HCHS answered quickly with four runs in the bottom of the inning.

Brooke Stroud singled to left and eventually scored on a wild pitch. Matthews then walked, stole second and went to third on an Amber Moore single.

Matthews and Moore each scored on wild pitches to make it 3-1. Brittany Pierce then walked, stole second and scored on an RBI-single by Bria Freeman that made it 4-1 after one inning.

Hertford County added a run in the second inning when Olivia Edwards doubled to right field. She went to third on a Stroud sacrifice and scored on a Chelsie Malone RBI-groundout.

Pasquotank put two markers across in the top of the third inning to close the gap to 5-3, but the Bears opened the game in the bottom of the inning.

Edwards had a two-run single, Malone had a three-run double, Pierce had a bases loaded walk and Matthews scored on a wild pitch. Freeman also had an RBI-single and Pierce scored on an error as the Lady Bears grabbed a 14-3 lead.

The final run of the game came in the bottom of the fourth when Matthews delivered an RBI-single that established the 15-3 final.

Matthews pitched the complete five innings for the win allowing just three runs on eight hits. She struck out two.

The Lady Bears collected 11 hits. Stroud, Malone, Moore, Freeman and Edwards had two hits each.

“I was pleased with our effort today,” said HCHS coach Sylvia Anthony. “We played a team game. We got good pitching, played good defense and hit the ball well.”

The Lady Bears are now 2-6 overall and 1-2 in league play. They will host league leading Bertie High School on Friday.