WHEELING — Morgantown High came up big playing small ball Thursday.

The Mohigans turned a handful of well-executed bunts into four runs in earning a 7-4 eight-inning win in the Region 1 championship tilt. As a result, Morgantown is heading to the state tournament for the first time since 1976.

The tough-to-swallow setback ended Park’s season with a 13-11 mark. Coach Mike McLeod’s youthful club lost to the Mohigans, 5-4, in Tuesday’s regional opener in Morgantown.

Morgantown will take a fine 21-8 mark to Charleston next week.

“We battled and battled even when we were down to our last three outs. The kids did a great job tying it up in the seventh and threatening again in the eighth,” McLeod said. “They didn’t quit tonight and didn’t all year. I am very proud of this group.

“We just didn’t execute defensively tonight in a couple of innings,” added the OVAC Hall of Famer. “We misplayed several bunts. Some were my fault for having the wrong coverage on.”

Morgantown managed its seven runs on just seven hits, three coming in the eighth inning. Trailing 2-1 after four, the Mohigans boarded three runs in the fifth inning, courtesy of two hits, one walk, three misplayed bunts and two sacrifice flies.

“We were able to get our bunts down and that really made a big difference,” Morgantown coach Mark McCarty said. “But give Park credit. They made a super comeback in the seventh and put together a big threat in the eighth.

“I would have liked to win a little easier but we will take it any way we can. We have a lot of respect for Coach McLeod and Wheeling Park baseball,” he added. “Our kids have shown resiliency all year long and did so again tonight.”

Park exhibited its own resiliency in the home-half of the seventh. Trailing 4-2 and facing elimination in three outs, the Patriots were far from done.

With one out, Ryan Hummel walked. Trevor Thomas followed with a single, setting the stage for a two-run, game-tying single from catcher Bryce Bauer, extending the game into the eighth.

Morgantown responded immediately in the eighth.

The Mohigans manufactured three runs via three singles, another bunt, a walk and a hit-batsman. The big blow was a two-run single by Andrew Berry, making it a 7-4 lighting.

The Patriots failed to go quietly.

A walk to Ben Taylor, a Mohigan error and a line drive single by sophomore Brock Archer loaded the bases with no outs in the eighth. Park, however, failed to capitalize as a strikeout was followed by a 6-4-3 game-ending double play. It was one of three twin-killings produced by the winners.

“Our defense was solid again tonight. It has been all year long. The double play was a nice way to end it,” McCarty said. “I like to see how well we can do if our bats ever get hot. But it is nice taking this group to the state tourney.”

Caleb Taylor, who blew a save opportunity in the seventh, earned the mound win. Ethan Stewart pitched the eighth to earn the save. Senior southpaw Conner Kelly worked the first six innings, pitching quite effectively. He allowed just three hits while fanning four.

“This is the best group of kids I have seen here that continued to grind through adversity. They never quit and just kept pounding,” McLeod said. “It is a great bunch of young men.

“I am sad about how this season played out. Rain never allowed us to become the team we were capable of being,” he added. “We had 11 or 12 games rained out. We were never able to get into a flow.”

Southpaw Stephen Graebe started on the hill for Park. The crafty southpaw was superb. He gave way to Zach Hickman with one out in the fifth without yielding a hit. He struck out three and walked a like amount. Hickman worked the balance of the game.

Park shortstop Jarrett Delbrugge, who is taking his many diamond talents to West Liberty next season, was the lone Patriot to deliver two hits. He also walked twice.

Morgantown 001 030 03 – 7 7 2

Whg. Park 100 100 20 – 4 7 3

M – Kelly (4K, 5BB), Taylor (7) (wp 1K, 2BB), Stewart (8) (1K, 1BB) and DeFelice. Berry, S, 3 RBI; Smith, 2S, RBI.

WP – Graebe (3K, 3B), Hickman (5) (1K, 1BB) and Bauer. Delbrugge 2S; Bauer, S, 2RBI; Taylor S, RBI.