Warren Central’s baseball losses this season can be defined by the Vikings’ inability to keep their opponents from having a big inning.

Add Madison Central to that list.

The Jaguars scored six runs on two hits and two costly WC errors in the seventh inning to break a 3-3 tie and claim a 9-3 victory in the Division 3-5A opener for both clubs.

&#8220Saturday’s game (a loss to Meridian) was the only game of the year where I didn’t think we were ready to play,” Warren Central (1-6, 0-1) coach Randy Broome said. &#8220We answered the call tonight for six innings.”

Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth, Heath Carroll led off with a single and moved to second on a two-strike bunt single by Kyle Calhoun. Harry Ferguson then bunted the runners up a base. Jonathan Longmire followed with a single to score Carroll. Calhoun was held at third base, leaving runners on first and third with one out.

&#8220I got Kyle thrown out at home in a game earlier this year,” Broome said. &#8220It would have been a killer if it would have happened again, so we wanted to be safe there.”

Logan Hale, a senior right-handed pitcher who dazzled Viking hitters with a nasty slider and pinpoint control, proceeded to record two straight strikeouts to end the Warren Central threat with the game tied at 3.

&#8220He’s a bulldog,” Madison Central coach Gregg Perry said of Hale. &#8220That’s the kind of pitcher he is.”

Hale threw six innings, allowed three runs on seven hits and struck out nine. The final two strikeouts provided the Jags with momentum heading into the final at-bat.

A hit batter, two walks, a double and two errors led to six runs in the inning. The Jags sent 11 batters to the plate in the decisive inning. Brian Higbee, who led MC with three singles, had an RBI in the flurry.

Tyler Akins finished with a single and a double, while Ben Hodge had a pair of doubles in the win.

Chris Whittington went four innings and allowed two runs, but was tagged with the loss.

Carroll had a big night at the plate with three of the Vikings’ seven base hits. Speedy Sean Elliott reached on two infield singles and scored the first two Warren Central runs.

WC scored in the first on an RBI single from Carroll. The Jags (5-2, 1-0) committed two errors in the inning that helped Elliott to score.

MC added a run in the third on an RBI flyout by Spencer Booth. WC took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third and Madison responded with single runs in the fourth and fifth to carry a 3-2 lead into the sixth.

&#8220This is a tough division and it is always good to get a win, especially here against a team like Warren Central,” said Perry, whose team lost 2 of 3 to WC last season.

The Vikings, who have lost six in a row, are scheduled to travel to Madison Central on Friday for the second of three division games against MC. The Vikings return home on March 9 against Greenville.