AHOSKIE – The Bears got started on the right foot.

Wednesday night, Hertford County High School’s baseball team topped Edenton 8-3 in the Northeastern Coastal Conference opener for both schools.

The Aces actually opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the first inning on a Jordan Harrell two-run single.

Hertford County, however, responded with two runs of their own.

Tyler Burden singled to center and stole second before taking third when Daniel Merritt reached on an error. Brandon Warren then drew a walk to load the bases.

Burden scored when Tyler Pryor got aboard via an error and then Merritt scored when Mitchell Godwin drew a bases loaded walk to tie the game.

The Bears added another run in the bottom of the second. Burden walked, Marvin Harrell had an infield single and Merritt reached on an error to load the bases.

Burden scored on an Warren RBI-groundout to give HCHS a 3-2 edge.

Hertford County came back with another run in the home half of the fifth frame when Warren belted a solo shot to left for his second homerun of the season.

The Bears pulled away in the bottom of the sixth when they added four runs.

Brandon Staton started the inning with a single, but was thrown out at home on a Burden double to center. Burden advanced to third on the throw home.

Harrell then delivered an RBI-single to left to score Burden. Harrell advanced to second on a Merritt single. Harrell then came home on a Warren single. Both Merritt and Warren scored on a two-run single to left by Pryor giving the Bears a commanding 8-2 lead.

Edenton scored its final run in the seventh on an Vinnie Pestaro RBI-groundout. The game ended on a bases loaded strikeout by Warren, who pitched in relief.

Pryor (2-0) tossed six innings for the win allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out eight. Warren tossed one inning allowing no runs on no hits while striking out two.

Hertford County recorded 10 hits during the contest led by Harrell’s three hits. Warren and Buren had two hits each.

“Tyler pitched six strong innings for us,” HCHS baseball boss Chris Towell said. “We put the bat on the ball and made them make plays and we took advantage of their mistakes.

“We played good defense,” Towell added. “We are playing hard. It is good to win our first conference game.”

The Bears are 4-0 for the season and 1-0 in the league.