After suffering his first loss of the season, Cole Bradford came back with a strong pitching performance to lead Britton & Koontz to a 4-1 win over Huber Construction Monday in Dixie Youth 11-12 action at Carroll Jones Field.

B&K lost its first game of the season to Whittington last Saturday after heavy rain halted Friday evening’s game in the fifth inning.

&uot;We definitely had to win both games (Monday’s game and Thursday against Stallone) to stay one game ahead of Whittington,&uot; said B&K head coach Tim Foster.

Bradford pitched a complete-game one-hitter while striking out eight and walking only one. He also went 1-for-2 at the plate with a single and one run batted in.

&uot;They did good. They were more fired up than they were against Whittington last week,&uot; Foster said. &uot;Cole did a great job. He was coming off a loss and he had a lot of confidence.&uot;

B&K (12-1) scored two runs in the bottom of the first.

Daniel Hollowell singled and scored on a single by Timmy Foster, who moved to second on an errant throw.

Foster later scored on a fielder’s choice by Bradford.

Huber scored its only run of the game in the top of the second inning.

Murphy Hinson went to third on two throwing miscues and scored on a fielder’s choice by John Carl Johnson.

B&K scored one run in the bottom of the third when Keylann Hinson walked, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a Jamario McCray double.

&uot;I was proud of it,&uot; McCray said. &uot;I knew I was going to hit the ball.&uot;

McCray went 1-for-3 with the double and one RBI.

With one out in the top of the fourth, Chris Seeger ended the no-hitter with a sharp single. The next batter, Jordan Farmer, hit into a 6-4-3 double play.

&uot;The double play got us out of a jam,&uot; Tim Foster said. &uot;The infield made some great defensive plays.&uot;

B&K added one run in the bottom of the fourth when Matthew Marks walked with the bases loaded to score Bradford, who led off with a single.

With one out and the bases still loaded, John White reached on a fielder’s choice, but Jeremy Ellis was tagged out at home by Johnson for the second out and Hinson struck out and stranded three.

Bradford then retired the side in the final two innings, including four strikeouts.

&uot;I felt good about it,&uot; Bradford said. &uot;I was surprised I had a one-hitter.&uot;

Corey Walker took the loss for Huber, giving up four runs (three earned) on four hits while striking out seven and walking two in five innings.