By Tray Mason/Correspondent

Nasemond River High School’s push towards a Southeastern District baseball championship continued Friday, as the team beat visiting Indian River 2-1.

The Warriors avenged an early season loss to the Braves, a game they had led 7-4 in the seventh inning.

“We were motivated to come out and get revenge against these guys,” Kyle Moore said. “Earlier in the season, it was a game we should have won, and we just wanted to come out and prove ourselves.”

Moore, who typically plays in the outfield for the Warriors, was on the pitcher’s mound against the Braves and didn’t disappoint. He went six innings, striking out 10 batters, while giving up five hits and one run. Moore also was 2 for 3 at the plate.

He gave himself some run insurance with an RBI in the first inning, and the Warriors led 1-0 up until the fifth inning, when the Braves tied the game.

NR would answer in the bottom half of the inning. Trevor Riggs hit a double and then advanced to third base on an error.

Brandon Lowe would single in his at-bat to bring home Riggs for what was ultimately the game-winning run. Lowe was 3 for 3 on the day.

Moore, who got into a jam in the top of the fourth inning when he put two Braves runners on with no outs, found himself in a similar predicament in the sixth inning and smoothly worked his way out.

After Moore had given up two singles to start the inning, a wild pitch allowed both Indian River runners to advance to second and third base.

But Moore struck out the final two batters of the inning, getting himself out of a situation that could have cost Nansemond River the game.

The Warriors brought in ace Tyler Brown to close the game in the seventh inning. Brown made light work of the Braves’ batters, getting the final three outs on just eight pitches, including two strikeouts.

“Kyle threw the ball really well,” Warriors head coach Mark Stuffel said. “He’s not one of our top pitchers, but he threw the ball so well earlier this season that he deserves another shot.”

It was the second consecutive game in which Nansemond River needed a run in the fifth inning or later to win, and experience with close games in the late innings can never hurt.

“It always helps,” Stuffel said. “It makes them believe they can win in these situations. We’ve had four or five games lately where we were down and had to come back, so it’s huge.”

The Warriors have a huge game next on their schedule as they take on Southeastern District leader Hickory. NR was the only team to defeat the Hawks going into Friday, before Hickory lost to Great Bridge.

The game is scheduled to be played at Harbor Park, the AAA minor-league park where the Norfolk Tides play.