CEREDO - Greenville Tar Heel (N.C.) scored nine runs in the fifth inning while taking advantage of several free outs given by South Fort Myers in an 11-9 win on the opening day of pool play at the Tournament of State Champions at Mitch Stadium in Ceredo, W.Va.

The fifth inning proved to be the downfall for South Fort Myers as five walks, three errors and a hit batsmen contributed to Greenville Tar Heel's nine-run frame.

In all, the North Carolina state champs sent 15 batters to the plate in the inning. For the contest, South Fort Myers committed six errors and gave up 11 free passes - nine walks and two hit batsmen.

After falling behind by six runs, South Fort Myers battled back with four runs in the top of the sixth, but Greenville's Anthony Saieed got a strikeout with runners on second and third to end the comeback.

South Fort Myers had taken a 5-2 lead in the top of the inning following an RBI single by Giovany Lorenzo and an RBI fielder's choice by Drew Dwyer.

At that point, South Fort Myers had scored the game's last five runs to seize full momentum.

Greenville Tar Heel grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first despite just getting one hit. A hit batsmen and error preceded Phillip Boykin's single that plated Hunter Christopher. Boykin later scored after a bases-loaded walk.

South Fort Myers cut the deficit in half when Preston Moore singled in Lorenzo, who led off the frame with a double.

The Florida state champs then took a 3-2 lead after an RBI single by Grant Boland and an RBI double by Drew Dwyer.

FLORIDA 012 024 - 9 11 6

NORTH CAROLINA 200 09x - 11 4 2

Boland, Ashby (2) McMenamy (5), Cunningham (5), Dwyer (5), Wheeler (5) and Lorenzo. Wooland, Rogers (4), Ahlers (5), Christopher (6), Saieed and Evans, Thomas (6). Hitting: (F) Lorenzo 3-4, 2 2B, 3 RBI; Dwyer 2-4, 2 RBI. (NC) Saieed 2B, RBI.

ATLEE (VA.) 7, COLUMBUS AMERICAN (GA.) 6, 8 INNINGS: Atlee (Va.) jumped out to a 6-1 lead, but needed a run in the bottom of the eighth inning to salvage a 7-6 win over Columbus American (Ga.) in the first game of the day.

With one out, Nick Zona singled to left field and went to second on an error by the left-fielder. After a passed ball moved him to third, a fielder's choice by Jack Dragum scored the game-winning run.

The run erased a memorable comeback for Columbus American, who scored three runs in the fifth and two in the top of the sixth to force extra innings.

GEORGIA 001 032 00 -- 6 7 0

VIRGINIA 001 500 01 -- 7 8 2

Shadix, Bradford (3), Valero (7) and Lingo, Konsler (3). Dragum, Davis (3), Jewell (4) and Miller. Hitting: (GA) Zona 3-4; Brooks 2-4; Davis 2-2.

IRMO (S.C.) 13, HUNTSVILLE EASTERN (Ala.) 8: After falling behind 6-2 after three innings, Irmo pounded out 10 runs in the final two frames to earn a comeback victory.

The fifth inning loomed large for Irmo as the South Carolina state champs scored seven runs in the frame to take a 10-6 lead.

Huntsville Eastern cut the deficit to 10-8 after a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth, but Irmo clinched the win with three runs in the top of the sixth.

SOUTH CAROLINA 020 173 -- 13 11 4

ALABAMA 402 020 -- 8 15 3

Ecton, Beatty (4), and Hanco. Scoggins, Coates (3), Brindley (3), Worthington (5), Jinkins (5) and Buchanan. Hitting: (SC) Beatty 3-5, 2B; Ecton 3-4; Cormier 3-5, HR. (A) Buchanan 3-5; Scoggins 3-5; Worthington 2-4; Jinkins 2-3; Cost 3-4.

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