The Patriots split a double-header of play on Friday, defeating Bessemer Academy 2-1 before losing to Edgewood Academy 6-5.

Game one was a battle of pitching with just four hits during five innings.

“It was very much a pitchers’ duel,” said Patriots head coach Allen Ponder. “I was very proud of the way we battled. We gave up a run early that we shouldn’t have given up, but we battled back and scored a couple late and played good defense to end the game.”

Reed Jinright pitched the entire five innings for Pike in their win, giving up one run on just two hits and striking out five.

“Reed did a great job,” Ponder said. “In order for us to be successful this year he is going to have to be one of our main guys on the mound. He showed signs of being that guy today. He was down in the zone for the most part, and he made them put the ball in play.”

Jinright also picked up one of the team’s two hits and drove in one of the two runs in the fifth inning. Hayes Lee picked up the other hit for the Patriots.

The Patriots seemed to have game two in hand after scoring five runs in the third inning putting them up 5-1, but t four errors were too much to overcome.

“We mishandled the ball at times, but I give them credit for putting some pitches in play,” Ponder said. “That is a very good team and you can’t give them any second chances. We did, and it cost us today.”

Jinright, Kiegan Simmons, Tyler Hussey and Lee all had RBI’s in the five-run third for the Patriots.

Edgewood tied the game up at five with four runs in the fourth inning. They tacked on a single run in the fifth inning for the game-deciding run.

Jarrett Jordan picked up the loss for the Patriots in game two. Jordan pitched all five innings giving up five runs, with only one earned.

After finishing the day 1-1 the Patriots move to 7-3 on the season.

The Patriots will be back in action on Saturday when they travel to take on Escambia.