After an 18-1 win Monday at Middlesboro, the Harlan Green Dragons had to work a lot harder in the rematch Friday as they had to rally from a 4-2 deficit for a walkoff 6-5 win.

Brody Owens walked to open the bottom of the seventh, then moved to second on Caiden Jackson’s hit and took third when Jake Brewer walked. Middlesboro pitcher Isaac Harris started with an 0-2 count on freshman Cooper Thomas before throwing four straight out of the strike zone to force in the winning run.

Sophomore center fielder Jaxson Perry had three of Harlan’s five hits. Jackson and Brewer had one single each.

Baylor Varner earned the win in both games of the series as he struck out all three batters he faced in the seventh inning. Owens gave up four runs on six hits with 13 strikeouts and six walks in five innings. Chris Rouse allowed one run on two hits with one strikeout and one walk in one inning.

Senior catcher Colt Bayless led the Jackets with a double and two singles. Harris added two singles. Bryson Heck had a three-run double as Middlesboro scored four runs in the fifth inning to take the lead after Harlan scored twice in the second inning, Mitchell Capps and Parker Hampton added one single each.

Harlan (7-7) will travel to Harlan County on Monday and play host to the Bears on Tuesday in a district series. Middlesboro (4-5) plays at Bell County on Monday.

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Middlesboro 000 041 0 — 5. 8. 6

Harlan 020 030 1 — 6. 5. 0

Coots, Harris (5) and Bayless; Owens, Rouse (6), Varner (7) and Shelton. WP — Varner (2-4). LP — Harris.