TARBORO – Post 102 rallied for five runs in the top of the ninth and recorded an 8-7 victory over Post 316 here Sunday.

The win in the Senior American Legion baseball game improved Ahoskie’s Post 102 to 3-5 in the conference heading into tonight’s (Tuesday) game at Edenton.

The comeback win was the second time this season Ahoskie had rallied past Edgecombe Post 316. They came back from a 9-2 deficit in Ahoskie to win 12-9.

With Edgecombe holding a 7-3 advantage, Ahoskie scored five runs in the top of the ninth inning.

Dustin Briggs led off with a double to left. He advanced to third and scored on wild pitches, trimming the deficit to 7-4.

Michael Burton singled to left before Chris Mizelle and Jacob Harrell drew back-to-back walks to load the bases.

Burton scored on a Brent Bowen RBI-single to center and Mizelle came home when Josh Morris was hit by a pitch.

Harrell then scored on a Ryan Staton RBI-single to left that tied the game at 7-all.

Bowen scored what proved to be the game-winning run on a wild pitch.

In the bottom of the ninth, Edgecombe had runners on first and second with one out.

Briggs, pitching in relief, struck out one batter and induced a groundout that ended the game.

“The guys didn’t quit,” Post 102 skipper Randy Whitaker said. “We got three runs in the sixth inning to get back in the game.

“In the ninth, we were patient at the plate, taking walks and getting some key hits,” he added. “Josh pitched great in relief and Dustin game in and got the last two outs.”

Edgecombe actually opened the scoring with four runs in the bottom of the third inning.

Ahoskie didn’t threaten until the fifth frame when Staton led off with a double to left and Bryce Cullipher singled on the infield. Both advanced on a Joe Harrell sacrifice bunt.

Briggs was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out, but a pop up and a strikeout ended the inning.

Post 102 finally got on the board in the sixth stanza.

Jacob Harrell walked and went to second on a wild pitch. Harrell moved to third on a Morris single to right. Staton then walked to load the bases.

Zeek Williams reached on a fielder’s choice, but Harrell was erased at home for the second out.

After Morris scored on a wild pitch, Staton scored on an error and Williams came home on another wild pitch, trimming the Ahoskie deficit to 4-3.

Post 316 responded with three runs of their own in the bottom of the seventh and took the 7-3 lead into the ninth.

Ahoskie had 10 hits led by Briggs with three. Staton and Bowen each had two hits while Cullipher, Morris and Burton had one hit each.

Bowen was the starting pitcher and went three innings, allowing four runs on eight hits while striking out two. Morris then tossed five and one-third, allowing three runs on four hits. He picked up the win.

Briggs pitched the final two-thirds on an inning, picking up a save while allowing no runs and no hits.

“This was a big conference win that keeps us in the playoff race,” Whitaker closed.

Post 102 will be at Edenton tonight (Tuesday) at 7 p.m.