The West Lincoln Bears took care of business and swept the Sacred Heart Crusaders for Hattiesburg in the opening round of the MHSAA Class 1A State Baseball Playoffs. Friday night at Petal, the Bears shut out Sacred Heart’s Crusaders 13-0 in 5 innings.

On Saturday at WL’s Bears Den, they beat Sacred Heart 9-2.

The Bears (8-13) play Hartfield Academy of Brandon in the next round. The best-of-three series begins Thursday at Hartfield.

Game 2 will be played Friday at West Lincoln.

“We are doing the things we need to be doing to win games,” said West Lincoln coach Steve Barrington. “We are getting some great pitching and we are playing good defense. We also are hitting the ball well.”

WL 13, Sacred Heart 0

West Lincoln senior southpaw Jared Case tossed a 1-hitter. Case struck out 5 batters and walked 1.

The Bears finished with 15 hits. Catcher Brady Wilson singled twice and tripled. Centerfielder Alex Neal hit 3 singles. Designated hitter Lofton Sills and second baseman Tanner Boutwell singled twice. First baseman Tyler Moak singled and tripled. Collecting singles were Jeremy Burns, Chase Buckles and Case singled.

Jake Evans was the losing pitcher.

West Lincoln scored 2runs in the fourth to break a scoreless duel. The Bears plated 11 more runs in the fifth.

The Crusaders got a second-inning single from Marshall Parish.

WL 9, Sacred Heart 2

West Lincoln posted a 9-2 Saturday victory at the Cow Palace.

Junior Brady Wilson went the distance and got the win. He gave up 5 hits, fanned 9 and walked 3.

The Bears accounted for 6 hits. Sophomore shortstop Bryce Temple singled twice. Temple also sparkled on defense.

Case, Neal, Burns and Boutwell singled.

Matt Dallardo was the losing pitcher. He lasted 2.1 innings. He allowed 5 runs, struck out 1 and walked 2.

The Crusaders collected 5 hits. Evans singled twice. Marshall Parish, Timothy Harper and Carlos Rogge singled.

The Bears scored 8 runs in the third inning to break the game open.