TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bald Eagle's Luke Hosband (1) tosses his bat after a hit during a game earlier this season. Hosband went 3-for-3 on Friday to lead the Eagles to an 8-4 win over Bedford.

WINGATE – The Bald Eagle Area baseball team looked to end its week on a positive note as they hosted Laurel Highland foe Bedford. An early four-run first sparked the Bald Eagle Area offense, as it was able to pound out 12 hits in an 8-4 victory over Bedford on Friday afternoon.

Starting hurler for the Eagles was Takota Ripka. The Bison retaliated with pitcher Gabe Taylor. Ripka picked up the win.

“We talk about staying on the attack and just playing for one another,” said Bald Eagle Area coach Ryan McNamara.

“That’s kind of the mindset we’re trying to take here smf when we can string hits like that and stuff, put some pressure on the defense and the pitcher, things start to get going. So that’s what we’ve got to do and continue to do.”

In the top of the first, Ripka sent down the side in order.

The Eagles threatened in their part of the inning as they posted four runs to take an early lead.

Luke Hosband hit a blast past the Bison third baseman. He advanced to third on a single into shallow left by Kaleb Irion, putting runners on first and third.

With two outs, Hosband then scored on an error while Irion moved to third and Ripka moved up to second. Kaden Cramer walked to load the bases, setting the stage for Riley Bucha, who cleared the bases with a double in the gap in right field.

Teagan Runkle had two put outs in another 1-2-3 inning for the Eagles’ defense. With two outs, Runkle flagged down what looked like a sure hit in the gap to end the inning.

Bald Eagle had a little two-out lightning going in the second.

With two outs, Hosband singled into left. Irion blasted another gapper into right for an RBI double. Irion wasn’t on base long as he scored on an infield hit to third from Runkle couple with a throwing error, upping Bald Eagle’s lead to 6-0.

Bedford ended both the no-hit bid and shut out in the third.

With Tucker Boone on first after grounding into a fielders choice, he was brought home when lead off hitter Gaston Walker blasted a triple deep into right field. Walker scored on an Eagle miscue, cutting the deficit to 6-2 going into the bottom of the inning.

Things started out positively as Bucha led off things in the third.

Bucha slapped a single but was gunned down at the plate on a strong throw by the centerfielder on a triple by Hayden Steiner. Steiner would be left stranded, holding the Eagles scoreless going into the fourth.

Bedford continued to inch its way back into it.

Carter Frederick singled. Teammate Jonah Topper singled. Zach Eichelberger loaded the bases on a bunt single. And Blake Cragen hit a shot down by first that scored Frederick, narrowing the gap to three runs.

But the Eagle defense shut things down from there as Topper was gunned down at third after leaning the wrong way. Coleton Clark struck out and Tucker Boone’s ground out kept the score at 6-3.

Hosband continued his perfect day, walking in the fourth. He scored on an RBI single by Runkle.

Despite loading the bases in the fifth, the Bison were left stranded as the Eagles defense came up when it needed to.

Hosband helped add to the Eagles lead later on in the fifth. Hosband, who went 3-for-3 on the afternoon, hustled out a grounder, allowing him to notch an RBI and extend his team’s lead to 8-3.

Bedford refused to go down quietly as they scored a run in the seventh and had two runners on base. But the Eagles ended things with a double play to put them back to their winning ways.

With the win, Bald Eagle bounced back from its first loss in three weeks earlier this week, and has now 7 of its last 8 since starting 1-2. It’ll look to carry that success forward into its next contest vs. Juniata Valley, which is set to begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday at Bald Eagle.

Bald Eagle Area 8, Bedford 4

BED 002 100 1 – 4 9 3

BEA 420 110 X – 8 12 4

WP: Takota Ripka. LP: Gabe Taylor.

Top Bedford hitters: Gaston Watkins 2-4, RBIs, 2 runs. Carter Frederick 2-4, run. Top Bald Eagle hitters: Luke Hosband 3-for-3 3 runs, RBI; Kaleb Irion 2-4, 2B, 2 runs, RBI; Riley Bucha 2-3, 2B, 3 RBIs.