Parkersburg’s Noah Holland, far left, is joined by his teammates, including Gavin Fling (7) while celebrating Wednesday’s 8-3 win over Parkersburg South at Hank Greenberg Field. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

PARKERSBURG — Turnabout was fair play.

In the second regular season meeting between Parkersburg South and Parkersburg, the Big Reds flipped the script from allowing 10 runs in an extra inning loss nearly three weeks ago and rallying from a 3-2 deficit on Wednesday with six runs in the top of seventh inning for an 8-3 win.

“The kids stayed focused — they were in the game the whole night,” PHS coach Alan Burns said after his ballclub improved to 9-9 and 4-7 in the Mountain State Athletic Conference. “We thought if we could get their starting pitcher (Easton Walker) up high with his pitch count, we could get him out and take advantage. And luckily that happened.”

Walker kept PHS at bats at bay for the most part through his six innings. He recorded two straight backwards K’s to complete his outing and finished with seven punchouts while allowing just three walks and three singles.

Peyton West entered in relief for the Patriots for a possible save. Needing three outs, West lasted two-thirds of an inning after allowing five runs on three hits. A pair of South errors did not help his cause.

Parkersburg South starting pitcher Easton Walker delivers a pitch during Wednesday’s game against Parkersburg at Hank Greenberg Field. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

“We were going with Easton until we couldn’t,” South interim head coach Nathan Currey said as his Patriots slipped to 6-13 and 2-9 in the MSAC. “He was getting up in his pitch count. He pitched six great innings for us. The plan was to always go with West there.

“It was just an off day, which is unusual for him. I think the world of West. He is a great pitcher. I told him he is going to have many more opportunities. Obviously, this isn’t the end for him.”

Offensively, the Patriots had traffic on the basepaths throughout, but stranding 11 runners on base came back to bite them.

Leading 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth, South had PHS starting pitcher Connor Elkins on the ropes with runners on first and second base and just one out. Coach Burns changed pitchers and brought in southpaw Noah Holland. He induced a fielder’s choice on his first batter then ended the threat with a strikeout.

Holland allowed no hits, struck out four and walked three while pitching a scoreless 2 2/3 innings for the win.

Parkersburg’s Tyler Cameron looks back at a pitch hitting the catcher’s mitt during Wednesday’s game against Parkersburg South at Hank Greenberg Field. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

“Originally, I didn’t know if I was even going to pitch today,” Holland said. “Connor’s usually a complete game guy, so I’m sitting on the fence because this is a big game. I’m just ready. Coach told me to come in and I was like, ‘I’m ready.’

“I’m going in there with somebody on first and second base, and I didn’t give up a run. I didn’t give up anything. That was a big confidence booster. Going into the next inning, I had to redo what I just did but better.”

South broke through first when Easton Miller’s two-out double scored Bronson Linville from first base for a 1-0 lead in the second inning.

PHS answered quickly in the top half of the third inning. No. 9 hitter Evan Schultheis was hit by a pitch, stole second then one out later scored on Chaz Elam’s two-out single.

South took the lead back in the fourth as a result of a hit batter from the opposite team. After taking his base to lead off the frame, CJ McCartney advanced to second on Linville’s base hit then stole third base with Miller at the plate.

Parkersburg baserunner Chaz Elam, left, scores a run as the throw toward the plate gets away from Parkersburg South catcher Easton Miller during Wednesday’s game at Hank Greenberg Field. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

The aggressive running, one of six steals by South, paid off as Miller lifted a sacrifice fly for a 2-1 Patriot lead.

A theme of back-and-forth scoring continued in the fifth as PHS tied the game at two when Gavin Fling singled with one out, stole second and scored on Parker Woods base hit.

In the home half of the fifth, Walker led off with a double, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Peyton West’s one-out single.

“We did leave a lot of runners in scoring position,” coach Currey said. “For the most part, though, we executed very well. We had a couple of bunts, a couple of steals and got runners in scoring positions and we were able to get those guys in.

“Until that last inning everything was kind of working our way.”

Parkersburg South baserunner Bronson Linville (30) scores the first run of the game during Wednesday’s contest with Parkersburg at Hank Greenberg Field. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

The seventh inning opened with a walk to CJ Carrodus. West fell behind 3-0 on his second batter then came back for a strikeout looking.

The momentum began to sway as the lineup turned over. At the top of the order, Fling was hit by a pitch and Parker Woods reached on an infield error to load the bases.

Elam’s RBI single was followed by Elkins’ double to the fence which scored three runs — the third coming home when the throw to home plate got away from the catcher.

The Big Reds, now in front 6-3, weren’t done. With two outs, Tyler Cameron had an RBI double and Cole Sisk tacked on an RBI single. PHS sent 10 batters to the plate in the inning.

“This is what we have been practicing all year — clutch hitting,” Elkins said. “On the mound, I didn’t feel I performed my best, but I think I did a good job holding them where they were. I figured (Noah) was going to do his part.”

Parkersburg South interim head coach Nathan Currey (wearing wind breaker) talks with members of his lineup during Wednesday’s game against Parkesburg at Hank Greenberg Field. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

Anything goes when PHS and South hook up. And in their final at bat, the Patriots made things interesting. An amped up Holland walked the first batter then went 2-0 on the next hitter which resulted in a mound visit by coach Burns.

“I think it was the excitement of our last inning and the adrenaline going — my timing was all out of whack. I was so excited.

“I just had to calm myself down and realize that the game was not over yet.”

With a runner on first base and no one out, a fly out and strikeout put the Big Reds one out away from victory. Miller, however, kept the game alive for South by drawing a walk before Holland racked up yet another strikeout.

“When I made my visit to the mound there in the seventh inning, I asked Noah ‘what’s going on?’ — he said it was his fault because he was too excited,” Burns said. “I told him he was aiming the ball. I said, ‘You are not pitching. You are a pitcher. I want you to go back to being a pitcher.’

“He was so keyed up and ready to go. After the game, that is the most excited I’ve ever seen him. You saw him yell when he came off the field. He never does that. So that was great to see.”

At Hank Greenberg Field

WP: Noah Holland 2.2IP 0H 0R 3BB 4SO

Connor Elkins (starter) 4.1IP 7H 3R 2BB 1SO

LP: Peyton West 0.2IP 3H 5R 1BB 1SO

Easton Walker 6.0IP 3H 2R 3BB 7SO

CJ McCartney 0.1IP 1H 0R 0BB 0SO

Leading hitters

Parkersburg (9-9, 4-7 MSAC): Gavin Fling 1-3, 2 runs, SB; Parker Woods 2-4, run, RBI, SB; Chaz Elam 1-4, run, RBI; Connor Elkins 1-4, run, 2B, 2 RBIs; Tyler Cameron 1-2, run, 2B, RBI; Cole Sisk 1-4, RBI; CJ Carrodus run; Evan Schultheis run

Parkersburg South (6-13, 2-9 MSAC): Carter Fluty 1-4; Easton Walker 2-4, run, 2B;Eli Davis 1-3; Peyton West 1-3, RBI, 3 SBs; CJ McCartney run, 2 SBs; Bronson Linville 1-3, run; Easton Miller 1-3, 2B, 2 RBIs; Asher Prunty 1-4

Next game: Parkersburg at Oak Hill, 1 p.m. Saturday; Parkersburg South at University, 5 p.m. Friday (May 1).