After picking up its first Yadkin Valley Conference victory earlier in the week over North Rowan, the North Moore baseball team was hoping to use the win as a springboard for momentum over the rest of the league schedule.

To do that, the Mustangs had to take down East Montgomery, one of the conference leaders, on its home field Friday.

The host Eagles broke open a close game taking advantage of several Mustang miscues for a 9-1 win.

“We struggled with our pitching,” said Mustang coach Brandon Reynolds, whose team falls to 1-4 in conference action and 2-4 overall. “If expect to win, we have to have good pitching to carry us. I have to give credit to East and their pitcher (Nathan) Reynolds. He kept us off balance, throwing pitches at different speeds and spotting his pitches well. East pitched, hit and fielded better than us and that’s why they won.”

Reynolds picked up the win for the Eagles, going seven innings, giving up five hits while fanning eight batters. Rider Maness got the start for the Mustangs, going three and a third innings and was relieved by Heath Carriker. Both pitchers had two strikeouts each.

North Moore actually got on the scoreboard first in the top of the first inning when Landon Auman reached base after being hit by a pitch with one out. Mansess then delivered a single up the middle, followed by an RBI-single by senior Justin Marley.

The Eagles (4-1 YVC, 6-2) tied the score in their half of the second inning. The Eagles broke open the contest in the fourth inning when they plated five runs, taking advantage of a couple of errors and three hits. East tacked on three more runs in the fifth for a 9-1 lead.

The Mustangs threatened in the top of the seventh inning when they loaded the bases with no outs. But the threat ended with a fly ball to right and two strikeouts.

North Moore finished with six hits, with Carriker having a pair of singles, Maness a single, Marley a single, Josh Lambert a single and Luke Auman a single.

The Mustangs try to get back on the winning track when they host West Montgomery Tuesday. The game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.