The Halifax Academy Varsity baseball team traveled to Fleming Stadium in Wilson Friday to play Statesville Christian at 4:00.

The Vikings come out swinging with lead off batter Matthew Wray starting things off with a double followed by Luke Blackman's single scoring Wray who had already advanced to 3rd on passed ball. Statesville fought back scoring 1 in the bottom of the 1st.

Vikings Tyler Jomo & Brandon Moody were walked in top of 2nd and both scored, advancing on passed balls. Moody scored when Matthew Wray hit grounder to 3rd baseman and he threw Wray out at 1st. Statesville scored 2 more runs in bottom of 2nd keeping the score close after 2 innings; 4-3.

Statesville pitching struggled in the 3rd walking Collin Smith, Landen Poole, & Jomo. all 3 would score. The Vikings would hold Statesville scoreless in bottom of 3rd, 5th, 6th, & 7th innings.

The Vikings added 3 more runs in top of 4th when Wray reached on error and scored on passed balls by the catcher. Blackman walked & also scored on passed balls. Landen Poole stepped up the the plate & hit triple scoring on Ryan Hockaday's single. Wray & Blackman hit back to back doubles in 5th inning with Wray scoring. Vikings added to their lead in the 6th & 7th innings with hits by Poole, Wray, & Hockaday.

Ryan Mizelle got the start on the hill for the Vikings pitching 3 innings. Collin Smith pitched 2 innings, Brandon Moody 1, and Blackman closed out the game pitching to 3 batters and striking out 2 of the 3.

Matthew Wray led all Viking batters with 3 hits; 2 dbls & a single and also scored 4 of their 18 runs. Luke Blackman had dbl & single scoring 3 runs, Landen Poole added a triple and single crossing the plate 4 times himself, Ryan Hockaday 2 singles and 1 run, Brandon Moody single, & Eric Hockaday a single.

The Vikings beat Statesville in 7 innings 18-7 and have a 1-1 overall record. Mizelle earns the win on the mound for the Vikings.

The Vikings will play Saturday at 3 PM at Fleming Stadium against Wilson Christian.