WAYNE, W.Va. — Champions again.

The Point Pleasant baseball team defeated Cardinal Conference rival Wayne, 6-4 Wednesday night in Wayne County, to win the Cardinal Conference. The Big Blacks were co-champions last year.

Wayne (16-11, 9-5 Cardinal) took advantage of a PPHS (19-6, 10-2) error in the top of the first inning to score the games first run. WHS added three runs on three hits in the home half of the fifth inning and led 4-0.

With one out in the top of the seventh inning the Big Blacks’ next five batters reached base to rally back. Point Pleasant scored six in the inning and took the 6-4 victory over Wayne.

Brandon Toler earned the win in relief after pitching the final two innings, in which he gave up no runs, no walks, and three hits. Alex Somerville started for the Big Blacks and received the no-decision after giving up four runs, three earned, on four hit and a walk in five innings of work. Somerville struck out six batters, while Toler struck out one.

Brandon Maynard was credited with the loss for Wayne, after giving five runs on six hits and four walks in 6.1 innings of work. Tyler Adkins pitched the final .2 inning for Wayne and gave up one run on one hit and two walks. Maynard pitched the first six innings giving up just four hits and one walk. In his final .1 inning he gave up three runs on two hits and three walks.

The Point Pleasant hitting was led by Brandon Toler with three hit on the night, followed by Jason Stouffer, Tylun Campbell, Layne Thompson, and Jacob Gardner with one hit apiece. Stouffer had the only stolen base for Point Pleasant on the night while Campbell had a game-high two runs batted in.

Tyler Adkins, Ryan Williams, Zack Cassidy, Jared Hunter, Allen Bryant, Corey Pancake, and Trevor Chadwick each had one hit for WHS while Ryan Harless led the team with two runs scored. Adkins and Harless each stole a base for Wayne.

The teams split the season series, as the Pioneers won 10-8 on April 16th in Mason County.

Point Pleasant has now won three consecutive games, all on the road against top 10 ranked teams in Class AA.

The Big Blacks return to action Tuesday when they start their section tournament at Ravenswood at 5:30 p.m. The sectional is a double elimination format, and all games will be held at Ravenswood.