Wallace State exploded for eight runs in the first two innings then held on to beat Jefferson Davis, 10-5, Tuesday afternoon at home.

In the first half of a twin bill, the Patriots played small ball to perfection. Wallace State rapped out nine hits, eight of which were singles.

Eric Wilkinson led the charge, going 3 for 4 with four RBIs and a run scored.

Dustin Noles smacked the Patriots only extra base hit, a lead-off double in the fourth. He had two RBIs and two runs scored.

Clint Bolden added three RBIs to the Patriot cause.

Brandon Smith started on the hill for Wallace. He went 4

and 1/3 innings and allowed two runs on three hits and six walks.

The submariner, Bolden. finished the game, allowing three runs on three hits.

The win improved Wallace to 11-16 overall and 3-14 in the conference, pending the second half of the doubleheader.

Designated hitter Josh Hasty led the War Hawks with an inside-the-park homerun and three RBIs.

Wallace set the tone in the bottom of the first.

Adam Reaves and John Byrd led off with back-to-back singles and Matt Norris followed with a walk to load the bases.

Dustin Noles got the first run across the plate with a sacrifice fly to right field.

Wilkinson singled home another runner and Norris scored on Bolden’s suicide squeeze bunt.

The Patriots pushed five more runs across the plate in the second inning, all with two outs on the board.

Jason Hill reached on an error to get things started.

Craig Roy sacrificed the runner over and Reaves worked a walk.

After a pop out, the War Hawks intentionally walked Norris to load the bases.

The move backfired.

Noles was plunked to force a run home and Wilkinson followed with a single that plated two more runners.

Bolden scored two more runners with a single and the Patriots had a commanding 8-0 lead after two innings of play.

A single and an error with the bases loaded helped Jefferson Davis cut the lead by two in the top of the third, but Wallace was able to get both of those runs back.

Hill singled and moved to third when Reaves reached on an error. Hill later scored on a balk.

Noles led off the fourth with a double and moved to third on a wild pitch.

He scored on a Wilkinson groundout to push the lead to 10-2.

The War Hawks tried to rally late against Bolden.

In the top of the sixth, Steven Walls and Eli Himes each worked a walk. Hasty sent a liner to short centerfield.

Norris charged the ball and made a diving attempt, but missed.

The ball rolled all the way to the wall, allowing the two runners to score easily.

Norris never stopped running and came all the way around for an inside-the-park homer.

Bolden settled down and slammed the door shut with a grounder to Brad Johnson at third to end the threat.

After holding Wallace scoreless in the sixth, the Red Hawks’ rally fell short in the final inning.