Topsail held South Lenoir to one hit and a close play at the plate gave the Pirates the winning run in their 6-5 win on Friday.
A Topsail runner slid under the tag of Blue Devils catcher Brett Davis in the bottom of the fifth inning for the winning run.
South Lenoir (1-3, 0-2 East Central 2A) was held to one hit — an infield single by Grant Tyndall in the first inning. Wyatt Janning took the tough-luck loss. He gave up six runs, one earned, on six hits in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out seven and walked three.
Pinch-hitter Wade Wetherington had a chance to tie it in the seventh but he flied out at the fence in right field to end the game.
The Pirates scored five runs in the second inning. Jake Sullivan had a three-run home run.
South Lenoir hosts Jacksonville Northside on Tuesday.
BETHEL CHRISTIAN 11, GOLDSBORO FAITH CHRISTIAN 5: At Bethel, the Trojans opened conference play with a win on Thursday.
Ben Potter pitched three scoreless innings in the win. He gave up one hit, struck out two and walked two. Alex Hardison had two hits, two stolen bases, an RBI and a run, Clint Conyers had a hit and three RBIs, stole a base and scored a run and Potter had a hit and three RBIs.
Bethel (2-2, 1-0) will host Wayne Christian on Monday.
SOFTBALL
TOPSAIL 13, SOUTH LENOIR 0 5 INN.: At Topsail, the Pirates scored seven runs in the first two innings and held the Blue Devils to two hits in the win.
Cassidy Willoughby and Madison Herring had the hits for South Lenoir, which committed five errors and gave up 14 hits.
The Blue Devils (3-2, 1-1) will host Jacksonville Northside on Tuesday.
PARROTT ACADEMY 13, NORTH RALEIGH CHRISTIAN 2 6 INN.: At Raleigh, the Patriots remained unbeaten on the season with the win on Thursday.
Brooke Uken was 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBIs and Darci Baden had two doubles and drove in three runs. Brianna Casey scattered four hits in four innings in the win.
Parrott (3-0) hosts Durham Academy on Tuesday.
GIRLS SOCCER
KINSTON 0, GOLDSBORO 0: At Goldsboro, the future conference rivals played to a tie in the non-conference match on Friday.
Erin Stewart had six saves in goal for the Vikings (0-5-1), who host Spring Creek on Monday.
CARY CHRISTIAN 4, PARROTT ACADEMY 2: At Parrott, the Patriots dropped their first EPIC match on Thursday.
Chelsea Thomas and Alicia Jones scored for Parrott. Holden Arthur added an assist.
The Patriots (3-1, 2-1) host Wilmington Cape Fear Academy on Monday.
TRACK AND FIELD
SL FINISHES FIFTH AT EC2A MEET: The Blue Devils finished fourth in a four-team meet at Jacksonville Northside on Thursday.
Top-three finishers for South Lenoir were: Dakota Lynn, third, shot put 36-feet, 8-inches; Dion Jones, third, long jump 17-feet, 8.5-inches; Dion Jones, second, high jump, 5-feet, 5-inches; Marquyse Jackson, third, 110-meter hurdles, 19.37 sec; Hunter Bryan, second, 400-meter dash, 56.95 sec; Marquyse Jackson, second, 300-meter hurdles, 45.48 sec; Ivan Covarrubias, third, 800-meter run, 2:19; SL 3,200-meter relay, second, 9:42; SL 1,600-meter relay team, second, 3:57.
The Blue Devils had a team score of 50, behind Swansboro (83), Croatan (67) and Northside (52).
BOYS GOLF
SL’S WHITE EARNS MEDALIST HONORS: South Lenoir’s David White earned medalist honors during an EC2A match at Star Hill Country Club on Thursday.
White shot a match-best 2-under 70 in the eight-team event.