TARBORO – Aaron Hoggard had four RBI’s to lead Ahoskie to their first conference victory here Monday night.

His single in the top of the fifth broke open a 3-all tie and sparked Ahoskie American Legion Post 102 to a 6-4 win during a trip to Tarboro’s Post 316.

Post 316 opened the scoring with three runs in the bottom of the second inning.

Ahoskie answered with three runs of its own in the top of the fourth frame.

Chad Gurganus reached on an error and then moved to second on a Gavin Mizelle single. Hoggard then belted a three-run homer to right-center field to tie the contest.

In the top of the fifth frame, Ahoskie surged ahead. Travis Ellis singled and stole second before Mizelle drew a walk. Ellis then scored on a Hoggard RBI-single that gave Post 102 a 4-3 advantage.

Ahoskie added a run a run in the top of the seventh stanza when Mizelle singled and went to second on a wild pitch. He then scored on an Eli Spruill double that gave Post 102 a 5-3 lead.

Tarboro scored in the bottom of the seventh to close the gap to 5-4, but never got closer.

The final run of the game came in the top of the ninth inning. Josh Morris singled and Dylan Ralph walked to put runners at first and second. Morris scored on an Edward Joyner RBI-single for the 6-4 lead and eventual win.

Brent Bowen tossed six innings for the win, allowing three runs on five hits and striking out nine. Brandon Warren pitched the final three innings and allowed just one run on three hits. He had four strikeouts.

Ahoskie had eight hits with Hoggard leading the way with two hits and the four RBIs. Mizelle also added two hits.

“We played pretty well,” said Post 102 skipper David Ellis. “We got good pitching and played good defense.

“We came back from Sunday’s loss,” he added. “It is good to win our conference opener. I think our players were excited.”

Ahoskie is now 2-5 overall and 1-0 in conference play.

They will host Wilson at 7 p.m. Friday at Hertford County High School. They will then travel to Kinston for a 5 p.m. doubleheader Saturday.