THE PLAINS, Ohio — The Athens baseball team scored twice in the sixth to break the seven-all tie and take the 9-7 lead and win Thursday night over Tri-Valley Conference Ohio Division foe Meigs in Athens County.

The Marauders (9-2, 1-1 TVC Ohio) scored twice in the first after Zach Sayre and Ty Phelps each had RBI singles. Athens (6-1, 2-0) answered back with four runs on three hits and a walk in the bottom half to take the early 4-2 lead.

After a Bulldogs error in the top of the third MHS manufactured a run and cut the lead to one. The AHS bats got hot in the third, scoring three runs on four hits.The Marauders battled back to tie it up after scoring once in the fourth and three times in the fifth.

The Bulldogs’ Ford hit a two run home run in the bottom of the sixth to break the tie and take the 9-7 lead. The Marauders failed to get a rally started in the seventh and Athens emerged victorious.

Taylor Gilkey was credited with the loss after pitching six innings and giving up nine runs, seven earned, on 13 hits and three walks. Gilkey struck out seven.

Ford was the winning pitcher for AHS after pitching 2.1 innings and giving up one hit while striking out two in relief.

Nathan Rothgeb led the MHS offense after going 4-for-4 with three runs scored. Treay McKinney and Zach Sayre each had two hit for the Marauders while Taylor Rowe, Ty Phelps, Charles Barrett, and Justin Myers each had one hit for MHS.

Ervin led the way for the Bulldogs with three hits on the night.

The Marauders return to action Monday at 5 p.m. in Albany for a TVC Ohio match up with Alexander.