The North Moore baseball team came up short of winning the Yadkin Valley Conference tournament crown Thursday in Mt. Gilead.

Instead, it was fourth-seeded Albemarle that took home the trophy, beating the Mustangs 5-2 at West Montgomery High School. With the game tied at 2 in the top of the fourth inning, the Bulldogs’ Corey Dick hit a towering two-run shot over the right field fence to put his team ahead. A sacrifice fly in the top of the sixth increased the Albemarle lead to three.

North Moore had opportunities to tie or take the lead in the late innings, but couldn’t get a run across the board. The Mustangs sent the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the sixth with no outs, but Dick, who came on in relief of starter Matt Kaiser, battled back to record three straight outs to end the inning.

In the seventh, North Moore loaded the bases with two outs, but Dick managed to strike out Tyler Wallace to end the game.

After a scoreless first, Albemarle got on the board in the second with an RBI double from Dillon Taylor. But the Mustangs ­quickly responded in the bottom half of the inning when Jonathan Henley scored on an error. Heath Carriker later drove in Rider Maness on a sacrifice.

After a quiet three innings, North Moore started to make things interesting in the sixth. Cody Johnson drew a leadoff walk and Wallace followed suit. Henley then struck out, but both runners advanced on a dribbler from Maness. But Dick got Carriker to ground out to end the inning.

The Mustangs threatened again in the seventh. After getting Ethan Galloway to fly out, Dick gave up a single to Colton Yedkois, who advanced to second on a wild pitch. Cody Vaughn then drew a walk. Corey Crabtree grounded into a fielder’s choice, forcing Vaughn out at second. But Johnson battled to draw a walk and load the bases.

Dick then settled down and struck out Wallace to secure the championship.

Yedkois, a recent call-up from the jayvee team, got the start for the Mustangs, going 4 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits and recording a strikeout. Clint Vaughn came on in relief and pitched the rest of the way.

The Mustangs finished the regular season and conference tournament with an overall record of 16-6. They now turn their attention to the state playoffs, which get under way this week.