AHOSKIE – Durham Post 7 swept an American Legion doubleheader from Ahoskie Post 102 by scores of 7-6 and 5-4 here Saturday afternoon.

In the first game, Durham built a 7-2 lead and held off a late rally from Ahoskie to win 7-6.

Post 7 opened the scoring with four runs in the top of the first inning. The frame was highlighted by a Patrick Kerwin three-run homer.

Ahoskie responded with two runs in the bottom of the first frame.

Heath Britt singled to center and stole second before Aaron Hoggard hit a two-run homer to center, trimming the Ahoskie deficit to 4-2.

Durham added one run in the top of the second on a Jacob Ezzell RBI-single, giving Post 7 a 5-2 lead.

They added two more runs in the top of the fourth on an Ezzell two-run double. Durham led 7-2 after four complete innings.

Ahoskie then scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.

With one out, Ryan Matthews singled to left and went to second on a Dustin Briggs single to left. Britt reached on a fielder’s choice that erased Briggs.

Both Matthews and Britt scored on a Hoggard two-run double to right. Hoggard advanced to third on a Jacob Harrell single to left and scored on Michael Burton’s RBI-single.

A strikeout ended the inning, leaving Durham ahead 7-5.

Ahoskie plated one more in the bottom of the seventh.

With one out, Britt had an infield single and stole second. After another out, he scored on a Harrell RBI-double to left. A strikeout ended the game.

Britt tossed three innings and allowed five runs on six hits while striking out one. Brent Bowen threw the final four innings, allowing two runs on three hits and striking out five.

Post 102 totaled 12 hits with Britt leading the way with three of those. Hoggard had two hits and four RBIs.

Matthews and Harrell also have two hits. Briggs, Burton and Josh Morris had one hit each.

In game two, Durham scored five runs in the fourth inning to defeat Post 102 5-4.

Ahoskie opened the scoring with one run in the bottom of the first frame.

Matthews doubled and went to third on a Briggs sacrifice fly. Matthews scored on a Britt RBI-single to give Ahoskie a 1-0 advantage.

Post 102 added to the lead in the bottom of the third. Jacob Harrell walked, went to second on a balk and took third on a Ty Ard single.

Jacob Harrell then scored when Joe Harrell grounded out, but Ahoskie led 2-0.

Durham rallied to score five runs in the top of the fourth and took a 5-2 lead.

Ahoskie got back within a single run when they plated two in the bottom of the seventh, but it wasn’t enough.

Burton was hit by a pitch and went to second on a Ryan Staton groundout. He advanced to third on an O.J. Dobbin groundout and scored on a Brent Bowen RBI-double.

Bowen then scored on a Josh Morris RBI-single. Morris went to second on the throw home.

When Britt singled on the infield, Morris was thrown out at home attempting to tie the game.

Briggs pitched three innings and suffered the loss, allowing five runs on six hits while striking out three.

Morris tossed the final four innings, allowing no runs on three hits and striking out three.

Ahoskie had eight hits led again by Britt, who had two.

“We were very pleased with how we played,” Post 102 skipper Randy Whitaker said. “Durham is a team with several college players and we played right with them.

“We lost two close games, but I was pleased with our effort,” he added. “If we continue to work hard, good things will happen.”

Post 102 dropped to 0-2 on the year and will host Snow Hill Saturday and Wilson on Sunday. Both games begin at 7 p.m.