WILLIAMSTON – Tyler Burden hit for the cycle and pitched a four-hitter on the mound to pace Hertford County High School here Wednesday.

Burden’s solid performance helped lead the Bears to a 13-2 win over Riverside High School in a non-conference baseball game.

The Bears opened the scoring with a single run in the top of the first frame when Burden led off with a solo homer.

HCHS added six more in the top of the second.

Brock Merritt started things with a single. He moved all the way to third on a Brandon Terry double. Merritt stopped at third, but Terry was picked off at second on the play. Merritt then raced home on an Eric Ortiz sacrifice fly that made it 2-0.

Bobby Merritt was then hit by a pitch and then Burden doubled. Marvin Harrell walked to load the bases before Ackerman Grace had a two-run single to left. Harrell then scored on a Tucker Warren RBI-single.

Grace scored on a Ryan Weaver RBI-single and then Warren scored the final run of the inning on a Brock Merritt RBI-single, giving the Bears a 7-0 lead.

Hertford County added four more runs in the top of the third.

Ortiz singled and scored on a Burden RBI-triple to left-center field. Burden came in on a Harrell single. Harrell then raced home when Grace doubled. Grace went to third on a Warren groundout and scored on a wild pitch, making it 11-0.

The final runs of the game for HCHS came in the top of the fourth.

Ortiz reached first on a fielder’s choice and then Bobby Merritt singled. Ortiz scored on a Burden RBI-single and Merritt scored on a Harrell single to make it 13-0.

Riverside scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth and then Burden had three straight strikeouts to end the game.

Offensively, the Bears had 17 hits led by Burden who was 4-for-4. Harrell, Grace, Brock Merritt and Terry each had two hits.

Burden pitched all five innings, allowing two runs and four hits while striking out nine.

“We did a real good job of putting the ball in play today,” HCHS mentor Chris Towell said. “Burden pitched a great game for us. We really needed this type of run output today as we have been struggling to score runs lately.”

Hertford County improved to 7-2 overall with the win.