SOUTH HILL – A slow start coming out of the week-long Eastern Break put the Prince Edward County High School baseball team in need of a road victory on Tuesday night at Park View, and as the case in the snapping of losing streaks, the Eagles' 5-4 victory over the Dragons didn't come without some late-inning drama.

The Eagles scored a run in the first, three in the second and another in the third to build a 5-1 lead, but despite putting runners in scoring position in every inning but the top of the seventh, were unable to break the game open.

Park View, meanwhile, scored single runs in the first and third, and two in the fifth to pull to within a run with two innings left to play.

It looked like the Dragons may steal the victory in the bottom of the seventh after PE starter Chay Fitts walked the leadoff batter, and was facing the top of the PV lineup.

The complexion of the game changed entirely with one swing of the bat, however. With no out and the leadoff runner on second after a stolen base, Fitts got out of the jam with help from center fielder Dylan Ott, who caught a deep fly ball and threw a strike to third base in time to get the runner.

That was all Fitts, who remained very consistent throughout the game, needed to complete the effort and give PE its first victory since before the break.

“That's how games tend to go when you're trying to break a streak,” said PE head coach Michael Weaver. “We haven't been playing that badly, at all. We just haven't been hitting. Today, we hit better, but for a little bit it didn't look like it was going to be enough, until Ott made that throw. It really took the wind out of their sails.

“Plays like that, and games like this one are the kinds that can get the blood pumping and right the ship.”

Ott, an aggressive player, walked to leadoff the game, stole second and moved to third on an errant throw, before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Tyler Morris in the first inning.

The Eagles took a 4-1 lead when Hunter Tyler, Denalo Branch and Matt Hart scored in the top of the second, and Fitts doubled to leadoff the fourth and scored on a single by Tyler to give the Eagles a 5-1 lead.

PE loaded the bases in the sixth inning, but was unable to get an insurance run across, setting up the late-inning heroics by the Eagles' defense.

“That's when you start to get a little tight,” said Weaver. “But you have to credit our guys. They refused to lose. This is a big one, because it gives us the tiebreaker over them.”

Fitts gave up four runs on six hits. He walked three and struck out nine PV batters.

Tyler was 2-3 at the plate with a run and a walk, while Fitts was 1-2 with a double, a run and two walks.

Prince Edward was scheduled to host Brunswick on Thursday, and will travel to Greensville on Tuesday, April 30.