FRANKLIN — A seventh-inning fell just short as third-seed East Hardy claimed a 4-3 win over No. 2 Pendleton County Thursday night in Class A, Region I I best-of-three series action.

The Wildcats trailed 4-2 entering the seventh but rallied when Josiah Kimble, Caleb Armentrout and Travis Owens drew one-out walks to load the bases.

James Vincell then lofted a sacrifice fly to center to plate Kimble, cutting the lead to 4-3.

But reliever Mason Hamilton got a groundout to end the game.

Evan Hamilton led off the game with a solo homer to right to start the scoring.

An RBI single by Vincell in the bottom of the frame tied the game.

Jordan Teets then hit the Cougars’ second homer in as many innings with a lead-off shot to left.

The contest remained 2-1 until Shayne Sisler delivered a two-run single in the fifth to give East Hardy a 4-1 cushion.

Pendleton County got a dinger of its own in the sixth inning when Vincell homered to center to cut the lead in half.

Teets worked the first 5 2/3 innings to earn the win, allowing two runs on four hits, fanning one and walking three.

Chase Owens took the loss, going all seven innings and giving up 11 hits, striking out four and walking one.

Vincell finished 2 for 2 at the plate for the Wildcats in the setback.

Mason Wilkins, Evan Hamilton, Teets and Garrett Van Meter had two hits each for East Hardy on the night.

The teams were slated to meet on Friday night. A deciding game will be held today, if necessary.

The winner of the bottom bracket advances to face the top bracket winner in a best-of-three regional final with the victory advancing to the state tourney.

Top-seed Tygarts Valley is in the driver’s seat of the top bracket after defeating Tucker County on Thursday night.