BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — After a back-and-forth opening game of the Class AAA, Region II final, Frankfort survived and took a 1-0 series lead with a 6-5 win at Bridgeport on Thursday.
With the Falcons (21-7) leading 6-4 in the bottom of the seventh, the Indians (24-9) loaded the bases off a hit batter and a pair of walks.
The Indians then scored on a wild pitch before Rhett Sensabaugh struck out the next batter to secure the victory.
Tied at 4 after six innings, Frankfort scored a pair of runs in the seventh off a double by Jaxon Hare and an Uriah Cutter base hit.
The Falcons’ other four runs came in the top of the fifth off a two-run double from Lanson Orndorf, a single by Blake Jacobs and another double by Hare.
The Indians evened the score with four runs in the bottom of the inning, highlighted by a two-run home run from Jacob Stavrakis.
Orndorf recorded 20 of the 21 outs, allowing four runs off eight hits with a walk and nine strikeouts.
Hare led the Falcons going 3 for 3 with three RBIs.
Stavrakis was also one out shy of going the distance, allowing six runs on 12 hits and four walks.
Frankfort returns home for Game 2 on Friday at 11 a.m. and can clinch back-to-back appearances in the state tournament with a victory.
The Falcons won last year’s Class AA state championship.