Pendleton County’s Chase Owens releases a pitch during Saturday’s Class A state quarterfinal contest against East Hardy. Owens went 6 2/3 innings, striking out six to earn the win.

HUNTINGTON — Pendleton County coach Sam Yokum was confident East Hardy would see a different version of his team from the one it swept during the regular season.

The veteran skipper was correct in his assessment as the seventh-seeded Wildcats claimed an 8-4 win over defending state champion and second-seed East Hardy Saturday in Class A state quarterfinal play at Marshall University’s Jack Cook Field.

Pendleton County (17-16) advances to face third-seed Sherman (25-8) in Thursday afternoon’s semifinals.

Sherman blanked sixth-seed Madonna, 10-0, on Saturday to advance.

Top-seed Huntington St. Joseph’s (32-3) and fourth-seed Gilmer County (28-6) clash in Thursday’s first semifinal set to begin at 10 a.m.

Pendleton County vs. Sherman will follow 50 minutes after the conclusion of that contest.

“We’re are playing our best baseball right now,” Yokum told The Inter-Mountain before the start of the state tourney. “The kids are confident and we’re rely on a lot of freshmen and sophomores and the experience they are getting (playing at states) will prepare them for the years to come, boding well for our future.

“I’m just really happy for our team and this is the reward for how they have battled this season.”

The Wildcats, like they did in regional play against Tygarts Valley, faced an early deficit before crossing five runs across in the top of the fourth, taking a four-run lead after trailing 2-1.

Pendleton County had four hits in the frame and took advantage of three Cougar errors.

Chase Owens led off with a walk, stole second bases and raced home on a throwing error on a ball hit by Cashton Kisamore, who then trotted home on Mason Miller’s single to give the Wildcats a 3-2 advantage.

Mason Harper then followed with another single to plate Miller.

One out later, Landon Davis singled and both Harper and Davis later advanced a base on a passed ball to set the stage for Travis Owens, who delivered a clutch two-run single with two outs in the inning to extend the lead to 6-2.

Pendleton County added a pair of runs in the fifth on Kisamore’s two-run double with Chase Owens and Jaxon Simon on base.

The Cougars finished the scoring on Mason Hamilton’s RBI double that scored Evan Hamilton in the home-half of the fifth and when Shayne Sisler drew a bases-loaded walk in the seventh to plate Evan Hamilton.

Chase Owens worked 6 2/3 innings to earn the win on the mound, allowing four runs (one earned) on eight hits, striking out four and walking two.

Sisler suffered his first loss of the season on the mound, going the first four innings, giving up six runs on seven hits, fanning one and walking one.

Mason Hamilton finished in relief. He allowed two runs on three hits, struck out two and didn’t issue a walk.

Travis Owens earned the save, working out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh.

Cole Harper had an RBI double in the second for the Wildcats and Miller tallied a pair of hits.

Evan Hamilton and Mason Hamilton had three hits apiece for East Hardy, which finished the season with a 20-13 record.

Pendleton County (17-16)

Travis Owens 2b-p 4 0 1 2, Jaxon Simon c 4 1 1 0, Chase Owens p-ss 3 2 1 0, Cashton Kisamore rf 4 1 1 2, Mason Miller ss-2b 3 2 2 1, Mason Harper 3b 3 1 1 1, Cole Harper 1b 3 0 1 1, Landon Davis lf 3 1 1 0, Noah Lockard dh 3 0 1 0. Totals 30 8 10 7

East Hardy (20-13)

Evan Hamilton ss 4 3 3 0, Mason Hamilton 2b-p 3 1 3 1, Levi Price cf 3 0 0 0, Shayne Sisler p-3b 3 0 1 1, Dayton Dove c 4 0 1 0, Gage Dove 3b-2b 3 0 0 0, Eli Combs dh 3 0 0 0, Mason Wilkins 1b 3 0 0 0, Patrick Mills lf 3 0 0 0. Totals 29 4 8 2

Pendleton County 010 520 0 — 8 10 1

East Hardy 101 010 1 — 4 8 4

WP — Chase Owens (4-5), LP — Sisler (9-1). Save — Travis Owens (4). 2B — Simon, Kisamore, Cole Harper, Evan Hamilton and Mason Hamilton

State tournament schedule

Jack Cook Field

Huntington

Class AAAA

Quarterfinals

Wednesday, June 10

No. 1 George Washington (27-5) vs. No. 8 Huntington (18-15), 10 a.m.

No. 4 Washington (23-10) vs. No. 5 Jefferson (27-7), 50 minutes after first game

No. 2 Morgantown (28-5) vs. No. 7 Cabell Midland (20-15), 5 p.m.

No. 3 Hurricane (24-8) vs. No. 6 Martinsburg (25-11), 50 minutes after Morgantown-Cabell Midland game

Semifinals

Friday, June 12

George Washington-Huntington winner vs. Washington-Jefferson winner, 5 p.m.

Morgantown-Cabell Midland winner vs. Hurricane-Martinsburg winner, 50 minutes after first semifinal

Championship

Saturday, June 13

Semifinal winners, 50 minutes after Class AAA final

Class AAA

Quarterfinals

Tuesday, June 9

No. 1 Bridgeport (31-3) vs. No. 8 East Fairmont (21-9), 10 a.m.

No. 4 Ripley (23-10) vs. No. 5 Spring Valley (25-9), 50 minutes after first game

No. 2 St. Albans (29-5) vs. No. 7 John Marshall (22-11), 5 p.m.

No. 3 Shady Spring (26-6) vs. No. 6 Robert C. Byrd (22-11), 50 minutes after St. Albans-John Marshall game

Semifinals

Friday, June 12

Bridgeport-East Fairmont winner vs. Ripley-Spring Valley winner,10 a.m.

St. Albans-John Marshall winner vs. Shady Spring-Robert C. Byrd winner, 50 minutes after first semifinal

Championship

Saturday, June 13

Semifinal winners, 5:30 p.m.

Class AA

Quarterfinals

Today

No. 1 Wheeling Central Catholic (27-4) vs. No. 8 James Monroe (20-15), 10 a.m.

No. 4 Logan (20-11) vs. No. 5 Doddridge County (26-8), 50 minutes after first game

No. 2 Frankfort (22-7) vs. No. 7 Lincoln (21-13), 5 p.m.

No. 3 Independence (27-9) vs. No. 6 Buffalo (20-13), 50 minutes after Frankfort-Lincoln game

Semifinals

Thursday, June 11

Wheeling Central Catholic-James Monroe winner vs. Logan-Doddridge County winner, 5 p.m.

Frankfort-Lincoln winner vs. Independence-Buffalo winner, 50 minutes after first semifinal

Championship

Saturday, June 13

Semifinal winners, 50 minutes after Class A final

Class A

Quarterfinals

Saturday, June 6

No. 1 Huntington St. Joseph’s 11, No. 8 Trinity 3

No. 4 Gilmer County 10, No. 5 Greater Beckley Christian 3

No. 7 Pendleton County 8, No. 2 East Hardy 4

No. 3 Sherman (24-8) 10, No. 6 Madonna 0

Semifinals

Thursday, June 11

Huntington St. Joseph’s (32-3) vs. Gilmer County (28-6), 10 a.m.

Pendleton County (17-16) vs. Sherman (25-8), 50 minutes after first semifinal

Championship

Saturday, June 13

Semifinal winners, 10 a.m.