The Emery Spartans avoided elimination by defeating the Morgan Trojans after falling into the one-loss bracket with a setback to the Carbon Dinos Saturday morning in the opening rounds of the 3A State Championship Tournament.

Entering the playoffs as the No. 6 seed from Region 15, the Spartans were faced with the daunting task of meeting the four-team pod’s top seed and host school Carbon.

Registering just two-hits for the game the Spartans failed to keep pace with Carbon in an eventual 9-0 loss.

Easton Gordon finished 2-3 at the plate, logging the team’s only hits. Jesse Barnett reached by walk and Jared Snow also received a base after being hit by a pitch.

Cade Brazier was tagged with the loss on the bump after giving up four earned runs in three innings of work. Kason Stilson worked the final three frames in a relief effort, finding success with off-speed pitches.

The early morning Saturday loss sent Emery to the elimination bracket against Morgan, who lost earlier in the day to Grand. Faced with a win-or-go-home situation, the Spartans responded with a 12-0 victory.

Wasting little time jumping in front, the Spartans posted two runs in the first inning. Emery added one run each in the fourth in fifth inning, but ended the game with an eight run sixth inning for the win.

Kyson Stilson finished 2-5, scoring two runs and plating another with two singles in the win. Barnett posted two RBIs off of one hit. Gordon finished 1-3 with a triple and RBI.

While succeeding offensively Gordon was also dominate on the hill earning the complete game win with 11 strikeouts. Allowing just four hits, he also walked only one batter.

The win over Morgan sends Emery to Salt Lake Community College on Wednesday, where they will meet Union in an elimination contest. A win for Emery would mean another game on Thursday against either Summit Academy or American Leadership.