When Class AAA No. 4 Bridgeport battled Class AAAA No. 6 Wheeling Park eight days prior to Friday's matchup in the McDonald's Classic, the Indians contained the Patriots' bats to secure a 9-2 victory in Morgantown.

The rematch played out in similar fashion on the Tribe's home field.

Behind four strong innings from starting pitcher Kasen Baun and three more from reliever Justin Duvall, the Indians again held Wheeling Park in check to earn a 7-2 victory.

"Kasen stayed within the zone the whole time and it was pleasing to see Justin get back to the Justin that we know," BHS head coach Robert Shields said. "He found all three pitches and mixed it up. I'm proud of both of them."

Both teams stranded a pair of baserunners in the first inning, and the contest was scoreless in the third when the Patriots (12-6) capitalized on a pair of Bridgeport errors to score both of their runs. The first came on an errant throw that tried to catch Jaxson Updegraff off third base, and after it sailed into left field, Updegraff, who had doubled, touched the plate.

Later in the inning, a two-out throwing error on a ground ball to third base allowed Nate Simon to score from third base, leaving WPHS with a 2-0 lead.

The advantage was short-lived.

In the home half of the third,  Michael Romano was hit by a pitch for the second time in as many plate appearances and Luke Rohirg followed with a well-struck double to right.

With a pair in scoring position, Baun helped his cause by knocking a single just over a leaping Simon at shortstop, allowing both Romano and Rohrig to score to tie the game at 2.

"The first couple innings were ugly, but then we locked in and did what we were supposed to do," Shields said.

The Indians (10-4) squandered a prime chance at their first lead in the fourth when pinch runner Scott Why got caught too far off third base on a snap throw from catcher Nolan Yenchak, resulting in the second out of the inning.

But after Duvall replaced Baun and retired the side in order in the fifth, BHS went in front to stay when it came to bat that inning.

Rohrig's single was followed by Baun being hit by a pitch and Jacob Stavrakis working a walk to set up a bases loaded situation with one out.

Owen Sondericker followed with a sharp single to right that brought Rohrig in with the go-ahead run, although Baun was thrown out at the plate on the play.

The Indians still managed to add to their lead that inning after Wheeling Park pitcher Mason Charlton was relieved by Dayton VanFossen, who immediately surrendered a single off the bat of Sean Via that scored Stavrakis and Sondericker for a 5-2 advantage.

The Patriots stranded a pair in the sixth and then faced a five-run deficit when they came to bat in the seventh after Stavrakis drove in Duvall with a single and Romano scored on a wild pitch.

"We have to quit leaving runners in scoring position and being able to deliver. In the fifth and sixth innings, we came through with the kind of hits we need," Shields said.

Baun allowed two runs (both of which were unearned) and struck out six while scattering a pair of hits and three walks.

Duvall also gave up a pair of hits, did not walk a batter and struck out three over his three scoreless innings.

Wheeling Park starting pitcher Brody Groome took a no decision after allowing two runs on two hits with three strikeouts and one walk in three innings.

Charlton was charged with the loss after he gave up three runs in 1 2/3 innings.

Updegraff and Rohrig led their respective teams with two hits apiece in a game that featured a total of 11, seven of which Bridgeport accounted for.

In the nightcap, the Indians couldn't overcome six errors in falling to AAAA top ranked Jefferson 9-6. The Indians had a two run lead in the in the fourth innings following a hit from Luke Rohrig but the Cougars rallied with a couple of unearned runs on Indians errors. 

Bridgeport amassed ten hits in the loss, Michael Romano had three hits to lead the bats.

The Indians will host Frankfort and Cabel Midland on Saturday to wrap up the McDonalds Classic.