PINETOPS — Washington returned to the win column Tuesday night at Southwest Edgecombe. In a rather lethargic game, the Pam Pack did just enough to beat the Cougars by a 5-2 count.

The game featured little offense, and it was a game where the Pam Pack took advantage of every opportunity to scratch out the five runs. On the game, the offense was uneven and could only manage three hits, but used eight walks and four Cougar errors to plate its runs.

The Pam Pack scored one run in the first inning when junior Frederick Holscher reached base on an error, moving to second on the play, moved to the third on a passed ball, and scored on a fly ball to right by senior Logan Little. Another run came in in the second when junior designated hitter Drew Ferguson reached on a single, moved to second on a walk to junior Tyler Harrell and came home on an error and overthrow.

Ferguson again scored in the fourth after drawing a walk, moved up on a bunt single by Harrell, and scored on senior Matthew Black’s fly out to center. Little scored in the fifth when he singled, moved around on a combination of passed balls and fielder’s choices, and scored on a wild pitch. The last Washington run scored when junior Chris Sulc reached on a walk, stole second, moved to third on a tagged fly ball and scored on a wild pitch.

On the defensive side of the ball, senior Tripp Barfield, starting his final regular-season game on the mound in a Pam Pack uniform, was solid. Barfield gave up only two hits, one of which was an opposite-field home run by the Cougar cleanup hitter, issued two walks, but struck out a dozen Southwest Edgecombe hitters.

The Cougars plated their first run in the third on a walk, an error and a hit. The final Cougar run came in the fourth when the first hitter nailed the home run ball. After the homer, Barfield dug in and became completely dominant. To end the game, Barfield struck out nine of the 12 batters he faced. At one point between the fifth and seventh innings, Barfield struck out five consecutive batters.

Washington’s pitching has been solid all year. The defense has improved game by game and is now a team strength. Certainly pitching and defense are hallmarks of successful teams, and will keep the team in every game, but for the Pam Pack to make a deep playoff run, the offense, specifically hitting, has to come to life.

It will get an opportunity to work on its offense when the Cougars visit Washington on senior night at Futrell Field this Thursday.