One big hit kept Warren Central at the front of the baseball pack in MHSAA Region 2-6A.

Blake Caruthers hit a bases-clearing double in the bottom of the fifth inning to give the Vikings their first lead of the game, and they held on to beat Neshoba Central 4-3 on Thursday.

Warren Central loaded the bases with two outs in the fifth while trailing 2-0. Trace Hood drew a bases-loaded walk, and then Caruthers doubled to center field to bring in three runs.

Neshoba Central got a run back in the top of the sixth, but was retired in order in the seventh as Caden Cole struck out two of the three batters he faced.

Caruthers finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Maddox Lynch and Hayes Loper each had a hit and scored one run. On the mound, Cole, Lynch and Beau Bradley combined for eight strikeouts and only walked one batter.

Warren Central (10-7, 4-0 Region 2-6A) swept the season series from Neshoba Central (9-8, 0-2), and is tied with Ridgeland (8-6, 4-0) for first place in the region standings.

Neshoba Central and Ridgeland play their two-game series next week, and Warren Central and Ridgeland play April 8 and 11. The outcome of those two series will likely determine the region champion.

Warren Central, which has won six games in a row, will play two non-region games next week. It is home against Germantown on Tuesday, April 1, at 7 p.m.; and home again vs. Northwest Rankin on Saturday, April 5 at 4 p.m.