Fresh off of an error-filled 13-1 loss to Grassfield High School in Wednesday’s season opener, the Nansemond River High School baseball team was hungry for redemption. It played at home again on Thursday night against Indian River High School and trailed 6-5 going into the bottom of the seventh inning.

But then junior Trevor Riggs came to the plate and doubled to deep right field, starting a wave of offense that would ultimately carry the Warriors to a 7-6 victory.

“I just got really excited when I came in,” Riggs said. “I knew I was up. I was ready to get the hit.”

Warriors head coach Mark Stuffel was quite pleased by the contrast in his team’s performance from the day before.

“We caught the ball and threw the ball a whole lot better tonight,” he said. “That was my whole thing. I just wanted to come out and have these young guys relax and play the way they can play, and I thought they played pretty well tonight.”

Defense made the difference, Stuffel added..

“(Zach) Rice is a good pitcher,” he said. “He threw the ball well, and Riggs came in tough situations and got us out.”

In the top of the seventh, the Braves trailed 5-4, but managed to get a couple of runs to take the momentum and a 6-5 lead. Riggs struck out the last Indian River batter, however, and got things rolling offensively after Nansemond River experienced a couple of scoreless innings.

Riggs got on base, then Colin O’Brien doubled to deep centerfield, bringing Riggs home to tie the game with only one out on the board. Then Tyler Jordan was walked. Tucker Rhoads was not able to convert, but then a freshman came up to bat.

“I thought the best at-bat of the night was Wilbur Davis, our freshman,” Stuffel said. “Comes up in a tough situation, fights off a couple pitches and draws a walk. That was the biggest at-bat of the whole thing.”

It loaded the bases, and then Brandon Savage was walked to bring in the winning run.

The Warriors (1-1, 1-1) face Hickory High School on Monday for their first road game of the season.