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Northside’s decision to move their playoff game start times to 3:30 Tuesday paid off with a pair of victories as the baseball and softball teams advanced to the second round of the 2A state tournament.

The sixth-seeded Northside baseball team (18-4) scored two runs in the first inning, three in the second, one in the third and broke the game open with four in the fourth on the way to a 10-1 victory over #27 W. Columbus (7-16)

Junior Brandon Arthur went 3-4 with three runs scored and a run batted in to lead a 13-hit attack. Senior Jarrett Spruill went 2-3 with a triple and drove in three runs. Senior Briley Cooper went 2-3 and scored twice, while classmate Eli Huynh had a pair of hits, scored a run and collected an RBI along with the pitching victory. He allowed a run on only one hit with seven strikeouts in 3.2 innings.

Northside will host the #11 Northwest Halifax-#22 Riverside winner Friday.

The softball Panthers (18-4) advanced with a 14-4 rout of #22 East Wake Academy (7-11). Northside, the 11^th seed, scored two runs in the first, five in the second, three in the third and fourth and one in the fifth for the win.

They travel to #6 Warren County, who beat Riverside, 20-0, Friday.

The #26 Southside softball team (9-11) pulled a road upset, 6-3, at #7 Chatham Charter, in their first post-season appearance since 2017.

Sophomore Lily McLean went 3-4 with an RBI and four stolen bases, while freshman Savannah Silverthorne drove in four runs. Carolina Crisp earned the complete game pitching win as she scattered eight hits, walked two and struck out six.

The Seahawks travel to #10 East Columbus (23-2) Friday.

Both Washington games were rained out. The #19 seeded baseball team (9-8) plays at Eastern Plains Conference opponent West Craven (14-8) Wednesday, while the third seeded softball Pam Pack (16-5) hosts #30 SW Onslow (9-13) at 6 p.m.