AFTON— The Harpursville/Afton and Unadilla Valley baseball teams faced off in a MAC league matchup on Thursday afternoon. The Crimson Hornets had a 9-2 lead late in the contest before UV fought back in their final at-bats, but came up short as Harpursville/Afton hung on to win 9-6.

Harpursville/Afton’s Davin Warren struck out the side in the top of the first and his team got on the board in the bottom half of the inning as Warren reached base on a hit by pitch.

Warren stole second and came in to score on Jacob Rueffer’s two-out RBI single to left field.

The Crimson Hornets added six more runs in the bottom of the third as Liem Donahue singled to lead off the inning as Paul Shelton walked. Both came in to score on an error and Rueffer, who reached on the error, stole third, and came in to score on another error.

Easton Bagg brought in a run with an RBI double to right field with one out before scoring on an error.

Donahue, in his second time up in the inning, had an infield single, which brought in a run, while at the same time, everyone advanced on an error.

UV got on the board in the top of the fifth inning on a passed ball before adding another run in the top of the sixth on Kasen Cox’s RBI single after Zayne Dibbell doubled to lead off the inning.

Harpursville/Afton’s Jacob Rueffer came up big again with an RBI single to center in the bottom of the sixth before scoring on an error to make it 9-2.

UV got closer in their final at-bats in the top of the seventh as Reed Osborne walked to start and advanced to second on a passed ball and advanced to third as Teagin Eccleston reached on an error.

Osborne scored on a RBI ground out by Uriah Drake.

Nolan Roper singled with two outs to bring in Eccleston before scoring himself on an error. The final run also came on an error before a strikeout ended the attempted comeback.

Davin Warren picked up the win for Harpursille/Afton, going four strong innings, allowing just one hit and had nine strikeouts.

Paul Shelton allowed six runs (two earned) on three hits, five walks, and struck out three batters in two and two thirds. Liem Donahue got the final out in the seventh with the strikeout.

Declan Potter started for UV, going three and a third innings, allowing seven runs (one earned) on four hits, two walks, and struck out six batters.

Teagin Eccleston pitched in relief, allowing two earned runs on one hit, no walks, and had seven strikeouts through two and two-thirds.

Harpursville/Afton (1-2) hosts Deposit-Hancock on April 15 at 4:30 p.m. at Afton while UV (0-1) heads to Schenevus this afternoon at 4:30 p.m.