JACKSONVILLE — Josh Grosz’s solo home run to left in the bottom of the sixth inning here on Tuesday night provided the host Cardinals with a 3-2 victory over Northwood in the opening round of the NCHSAA 3A State Playoffs.
Northwood played well enough to win but could not get the key hit to put the locals over the top in closing the season at 16-10 overall.
Jacksonville (21-5) advanced to the second round to host Western Harnett.
It didn’t take the Chargers long on Tuesday evening to take a 1-0 advantage when Michael Posse teed off on a Grosz pitch and drove it over the wall in left field.
The Cardinals responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first highlighted aided by a NW error which allowed two runs to come across after singles by Cooper Ferguson and Brody Meyer.
Northwood tied the game at 2-all in the top of the third when Tyler Johnson and Deuce Powell walked, and Zizzy Newll slapped a two-out single to left to plate Johnson.
Unfortunately, the Chargers would strand nine runners over the next four innings, including the bases loaded in the top of the sixth, allowing the Grosz homer to be the difference in the contest.
Northwood outhit Jacksonville 9-4 in the contest to make the outcome even more of a heartbreaker.
Posse was 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI to lead the Chargers offensively while Newall was 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Landon Johnson and Quin Powell both 2-for-4 with Powell adding a double.
Tyler Johnson, who was 1-for-3 at the plate, hurled 6 innings in taking the loss and allowed four hits, three runs (two earned), walked none and fanned four.
Picking up the win in relief for the Cardinals was Cade Anderson who worked the final 1.2 innings and yielded two hits and two walks while striking out three.
Grosz went 5.1 innings for the victors and allowed seven hits, two runs, three walks and struck out eight.