PINETOPS – Hertford County fell behind early and couldn’t come back in a 10-2 loss to Farmville Central here Wednesday in the opening game of the SWEET Softball Classic.

Farmville Central took the lead in the second inning as the Lady Bears struggled to contain the high-powered offense of the Lady Jaguars, giving up ten runs total.

Farmville Central put up seven runs in the fourth inning to ice the game thanks to an error and doubles by Gracen Terrell and Abby Foster, and a single by Cadajah Barnes.

Foster got the win for Farmville Central. She lasted seven innings, allowing two runs on seven hits while Emily Merritt took the loss for Hertford County. She allowed seven hits and ten runs over six innings, striking out six and walking one.

D.L. Watford and Mya Mabine each had multiple hits for the Bears. Watford went 3-for-4 at the plate.

Merritt bounced back from the loss and threw a gem of a game Thursday allowing no runs over seven innings while striking out 15 and walking zero in beating Greenville J.H. Rose 5-0.

Hertford County’s offense put up four runs in the fifth inning led by singles by Aniya Jones and Merritt and Watford.

Brionna Morings went 2-for-2 at the plate to lead the Bears in hits.

Hertford County (6-6) resumes Northeastern Coastal Conference play next in Elizabeth City on Tuesday (Apr 10) at 7 p.m. against Pasquotank.