GATESVILLE – Tyler Pryor and Marvin Harrell combined to pitch a three-hitter Friday.

The Hertford County High School hurlers helped lead their baseball squad to a 15-5 non-conference victory over Gates County High School as the Bears remained undefeated in the opening weeks of play.

Gates County got things started with three runs in the home half of the first frame.

Nathaniel Simpson walked, Trace Buck reached on an error and Trebor Buck singled to load the bases.

Simpson came around to score on a Zach Badgett RBI-single. Trace Buck then scored when Adison Eure singled. Brandon Shifflemire, a courtesy runner for Eure, later scored when he stole home to make it 3-0 in favor of the Barons.

The Bears drew even in the visitor’s half of the second inning.

Tucker Warren singled to left before Petey Boone did the same. Warren came around to score on a Brandon Staton RBI-single to center. Boone and Staton moved to third and second respectively on the throw home.

Boone then raced home on a wild pitch and Staton scored on a Tyler Burden RBI-single to tie the game at 3-all.

The Bears broke open the game with seven runs in the top of the third inning.

Daniel Merritt singled to center and moved all the way to third on a Brandon Warren double to left field.

Merritt scored on a Tucker Warren RBI-single before Brandon Warren came home thanks to a Pryor single to left.

Mitchell Godwin then reached on an error to load the bases.

Tucker Warren scored on a throwing error which allowed Pryor and Godwin to advance. Pryor scored when Staton reached on an infield error and Godwin scored on Burden sacrifice fly.

Staton came home on a Harrell RBI-single. Harrell took second on the throw home and then scored on a Merritt RBI-single to give HCHS a 10-3 lead.

Hertford County added an additional five runs in the top of the fourth frame.

Tucker Warren got things started when he reached on an error. Pryor then drew a walk.

Warren scored on a Godwin RBI-single and then courtesy runner Bobby Merritt scored when Boone reached first on an error.

Godwin then came home on a Staton infield single. Both Boone and Staton scored on Burden’s two-run double to right-centerfield.

The Bears left the top of the fourth with a comfortable 15-3 lead.

Gates County bounced back with two runs in the bottom of the inning.

Nathan Rodgers was hit by a pitch. Simpson and Graham Hobbs then drew back-to-back walks to load the bases.

Rodgers and Simpson came around to score on a wild pitch to close the gap to 15-5.

Neither team was able to score in the fifth and the game ended due to the mercy rule.

Pryor pitched three and two-thirds of an inning allowing five runs on three hits with three strikeouts. Harrell tossed the final inning and a third allowing no runs, no hits and recording six strikeouts.

The Bears had 15 hits during the afternoon led by Burden, who registered three hits and four RBIs. Tucker Warren, Godwin, Merritt and Staton had two hits each.

“We did a good job of putting the ball in play and making them make plays,” HCHS skipper Chris Towell said. “Gates County has a good team. It is good for us to play a quality team.

“Tyler kept us in the game and Marvin came in and shut them down,” he added.

Hertford County improved to 3-0 overall and will play at Northampton County High School – East at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.