AHOSKIE – A three-run rally in the seventh inning was the deciding factor as Edenton Post 40 came back to top Ahoskie Post 102 by a score of 7-3 in a senior American Legion baseball game here Tuesday night.

Ahoskie got on the scoreboard first with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Tyler Jones doubled into the gap in left-centerfield to get things going and Jarrett Harrell followed and scored Jones thanks to an RBI double to nearly the same spot. Harrell’s two-bagger put Post 102 on top, 1-0.

Ahoskie added another run in the bottom of the third inning when D.J. Smith singled to left; and on Jones’ double, Smith was able to score on a wild throw trying to get the out at third base. Ahoskie took a 2-0 lead after three full innings of baseball.

Edenton halved the Post 102 lead with a lone run in the top of the fifth inning for a 2-1 Ahoskie score.

In the bottom of the same frame Smith bunted his way on base and Matthew Scott followed with a base hit to right field to get two aboard. Both runners moved into scoring position thanks to Jones’ groundout. But Ahoskie couldn’t get a single run out of it as a fly out and a strikeout ended the Post 102 scoring threat.

Following a scoreless sixth inning Edenton took the lead with three runs in the top of the seventh. Post 40 now led the contest 4-2 after seven.

Edenton padded their lead with two more runs in the top of the eighth inning for a 6-2 bulge.

In the bottom of the eighth Tommy Cowan drew a two-out walk, Logan Jackson singled, and Nathan Rowe had an infield base-hit to load the bases, but once more a groundout ended the inning, leaving Post 102 four runs down with three outs left to play.

Edenton got some insurance in the form of a lone run in the top of the ninth for a five-run lead.

Ahoskie tried to rally in the bottom of the ninth. Matthew Weaver doubled to left field, stole third, and scored on a Scott sacrifice fly ball. Jones singled to left, but never crossed the plate as a groundout ended the comeback and the game, sending Post 102 reeling to their third straight loss.

Jackson pitched five and two-thirds innings, allowing just one run. Slade Cowan pitched the final three and one-third innings and took the loss.

Ahoskie had 10 hits, led by Jones who collected three of them, while Smith collected a pair of hits. Scott, Harrell, Jackson, Rowe, and Weaver each had one hit.

The loss dropped Ahoskie to 2-5 while Edenton climbed back to the .500 mark and evened their record at 2-2.

Post 102 played on the road in Vanceboro Wednesday night against West Craven in a game not completed by press-time. The seniors will stay on the road with a game at Wayne County on Friday at 7 p.m.