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Kinston overcame a seven-run hole in the fifth inning en route to a 9-8 win at Red Level in varsity baseball action on Thursday, Feb. 27.

The Bulldogs evened their season record at 1-1, while the Tigers fell to 1-1.

Jon Simmons drew a leadoff walk in the top of the first before Josh Hart popped up a bunt. Kinston loaded the bases with one out on an error and a single. Buddy Griffin threw home for a force play as Connor Blackwell struck out Easton Parker and kept the game scoreless.

Griffin began a two-out rally in the bottom half with a two-out triple. The next three batters walked, and Griffin scored the first run when Drew Branch issued a free pass to Wyatt Simmons. Jonathan Nolen then brought home Brock Skipper with an RBI single. Courtesy runner Dawson Austin was tagged out at the plate on the play and kept the score 2-0 after one.

Blackwell worked around a one-out miscue and stranded a runner in scoring position with two strikeouts in the visiting second. Branch retired the home side in order on just 11 pitches.

Josh Hart opened the third with a walk and got the Bulldogs within one when he scored on an errant throw. Colby Tew sacrificed Branch to third with one out, but Blackwell preserved the lead with a lineout to Griffin and a flyout to Jacob Walden.

Tanner Whatley started the home half with an infield single and scored on Griffin’s second triple. Skipper reached on a defensive blunder that sent Griffin home. Grayson Hodges walked and put runners at first and second with no outs. Branch battled back with two strikeouts as the Tigers settled for a 4-1 lead after three.

Blackwell worked quickly in the top of the fourth and struck out two Kinston batters. He aided his own cause with a single and scored the fifth run on a passed ball. Hodges delivered a clutch two-out, two-run single that scored Griffin and Skipper. W. Simmons then had an RBI triple that plated Austin and gave Red Level an 8-1 lead after four.

The Bulldogs’ bats woke up with authority in the visiting fifth. Tew trimmed the gap to 8-3 with a bases-loaded, two-run single. Judd Green delivered a two-run triple and brought the hole to 8-5 when Branch and Tew touched home. Parker had an RBI single before Brant McCollough also tripled and scored the tying run. J. Simmons was hit by a pitch and took second after a balk. Griffin, who took over on the mound, eluded further damage when Hodges threw out J. Simmons, who was attempting to steal third.

Nolen led off the last of the fifth with a double. Unfortunately, a bunt and two strikeouts thwarted the Tigers’ threat and left the game locked in an 8-8 tie after five.

Kinston took the lead in the sixth when Tew reached on a force play with two outs. He swiped a pair of bases and eventually scored the go-ahead run. Griffin took first on a walk and swiped second with two outs. J. Simmons stranded the runner there as Red Level trailed 9-8 after six.

Blackwell returned to the mound with consecutive walks in the visiting seventh. The Bulldogs were poised to add to their lead, but Blackwell had other plans and retired the next three batters on nine pitches. Nolen walked for the Tigers and represented the tying run with one out, but Parker struck out the side and capped the comeback.

Griffin finished 2-for-2 with three runs scored and an RBI but took the loss after an unearned run and three strikeouts in 1 1/3 innings. Nolen also had a multi-hit showing at 2-for-3 with an RBI. Blackwell allowed eight runs on nine hits with four walks and six strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.

Tew went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Branch was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. J. Simmons collected the win, while Parker earned the save.

Red Level travels to Luverne for a contest on Tuesday, March 4, at 6 p.m.