MYRTLE GROVE, N.C. – Weeks ahead of its pursuit of a third consecutive state championship series berth, Burns took care of business quickly to open the Wilmington Baseball Classic.

Marshall McGowan and Max Davis homered in a 2023 regional championship series rematch against Morehead to win 14-4.

The three-day event, which pits top teams from around the state against one another at four different sites, saw McGowan dominate early.

He struck out five over two scoreless innings on the mound and helped the Bulldogs break the ice at the plate quickly. A lead-off error put McGowan in scoring position, and his courtesy runner, Camden Martin, crossed on a sacrifice fly two batters later.

The floodgates broke open with a seven-run second. Freshman Yates Toney singled to start the frame and advanced to third on an error. Nick Williams singled him in, and Davis followed with a blast into the strong breeze that was blowing out to right.

Hagan Hoyle added an RBI single, and when the order turned back over to Toney, he sent a bases-clearing double to right.

In the third, McGowan launched a three-run homer to inflate Burns’ lead to 11-0.

The Bulldogs’ pitching staff allowed five hits over five innings and punched out 10.

Trailing 13-0 in the fifth, Morehead rallied for four runs with two out to force a bottom half of the inning.

Williams ended the game via run-rule with a run-scoring single to secure the 14-4 victory.

Burns is now 17-2 overall. The Bulldogs will play Grimsley at New Hanover’s Legion Stadium on Tuesday at 1:00 PM and Trinity at Ashley on Wednesday at 10:00 AM.

Morehead fell to 7-10 this season. The Panthers look to bounce back on Tuesday afternoon at Hoggard against Eastern Alamance. On Wednesday, they take on Dixon at Ashley.

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