AHOSKIE – Jacksonville scored the game-winning run in the top of the eighth inning here Friday.

The Cardinals edged out Hertford County High School 4-3 in the first round of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 3-A playoffs, ending a successful season for HCHS at 17-6.

Jacksonville got on the board first with one run in the top of the first frame. They added an additional mark in the second to take a 2-0 lead.

The Bears rallied back for one run in the bottom of the second inning.

Mitchell Godwin singled to center. Courtesy runner Petey Boone went to second on a Tucker Warren groundout and then scored on a Montario Hunter RBI-double to left-center field.

The Cardinals added another run to take a 3-1 lead after three innings.

Hertford County came back to tie the contest with two runs in the bottom of the fifth frame.

With two out, Tyler Burden walked and then advanced to third on a double by Marvin Harrell. Both runners came in to score when Daniel Merritt laced a two-run double to right.

The Bears threatened again in the bottom of the sixth stanza.

Tyler Pryor and Godwin led off the inning with back-to-back singles, but were left stranded when a fly out, strikeout and line out ended the frame.

Jacksonville scored the game-winning run in the top of the eighth inning on a sacrifice fly.

In the bottom of the inning, Pryor singled to right, but a fielder’s choice and a double play ended the inning.

Brandon Warren pitched all eight innings for the Bears. He suffered the loss after allowing four runs on 11 hits. He struck out eight.

The Bears had nine hits. Pryor led the way with three of those safeties. Merritt and Godwin had two hits each.