The Emery Spartans responded to a season opening loss with a 6-5 victory over Virgin Valley Thursday afternoon in the second contest of the season in Mesquite, Nevada.

Just two days after failing to find consistency at the plate, the Spartans scored runs in three of the five innings played to grab the one run win. Emery managed to double up Virgin Valley in the hit category 10-5.

Easton Neilson recorded the win on the mound for the Spartans as he pitched four solid innings, allowing just four hits and three earned runs, while striking out three batters. Hayden Abrams worked one inning in relief to record the save.

Emery jumped out to a fast start in the top of the first inning. Mason Stilson and Wade Stilson started the game with back-to-back singles. Kade Larsen then fired a single to center field, bringing in two runs. Peyton Alton help add another run as he singled to score Quayd Oveson.

Virgin Valley answered back nearly immediately, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first and adding another in the bottom of the second to tie the game at three. The tie would be short lived as Emery took the lead for good in the top of the third.

Gannon Ward doubled on a fly ball to right field, scoring Wade Stilson for a second time to break the tie. Oveson would later cross the plate a second time to give Emery a 5-3 lead.

Both teams would find success at the plate over the final two innings. The Spartans carried a 6-4 lead into the bottom of the fifth, where Virgin Valley would threaten to steal the game. With a runner on third and the game tying run on first, Abrams forced a fielder’s choice for the second out as Virgin Valley cut the lead to one. The game came to an end on the next at bat as a ground ball to second base gave Emery the third out.

Larsen finished the game 2-3 with a double and two RBIs, running his season total to a team best four in the early going. Ward ended 1-2 with a double and two RBIs to go along with a walk.

The Spartans will now shift focus to Friday where the team will play a double-header beginning at noon. Up first will be a tilt with Bonneville, followed by an immediate start with Moapa Valley at 2:00.