The Brownwood Lions committed three errors and two run-scoring balks over the first three batters of the game, but regained their composure and used three consecutive multi-run innings to chalk up a 10-6 victory over Perryton Thursday night at Morris Southall Field to kick off the Chris Bright coaching era.

“A little first-game jitters surrendering three runs in the first inning without a hit,” Bright said. “That is definitely not a recipe for success, but we calmed down and did a good job answering every inning they scored in.”

Down 3-0 before stepping to the plate, the Lions closed the gap to a single run after one inning, opened an 8-3 advantage after two frames, and padded the cushion to 10-4 after four full innings.

“We work on situational hitting every day in practice,” Bright said. “It doesn’t have to be pretty, you just have to get the job done and some of our kids still found barrels and hit the ball hard. We did the things we needed to do, moving guys around and getting them across the plate in chunks, and that is a recipe for success.”

The Lions finished with eight hits – two each by Wyatt Wolf and Robbie Robinson and one apiece from Shaxton Simpson, Garrett Wilkerson, Harrison Sweaney and Levi Pearson. Robinson led the way with four RBIs trailed by Sweaney with two and one each from Wolf, Simpson, Wilkerson and Pearson.

On the mound, Wilkerson worked the first four innings to notch the victory, allowing two earned runs on a pair of hits with five strikeouts, two walks and a hit batter. Robinson pitched the fifth and final inning and yielded two runs on one hit with one strikeout and a pair of walks.

“Garrett Wilkerson, for his first start on the mound as a sophomore, he did a phenomenal job, especially after surrendering three runs early,” Bright said.

Perryton began the game with Enrique Canssino reaching on an error and later advancing on an errant pick-off attempt at first base. Saul Garcia then got on base due the Lions’ third error just two batters into the contest, and both came home to score on balks. Carlos Estrada added an RBI ground out to plate Jaxten Castanon, who walked, but the Lions escaped further damage.

In the bottom of the first, Wolf led off with a single, Simpson reached on an error, and an RBI ground out from Robinson brought home Wolf with the first Brownwood run. Sweaney later delivered an RBI sacrifice fly to center field that plated Simpson and reduced the deficit to 3-2.

Brownwood then seized control in the bottom of the second after a scoreless top half for Perryton.

Pearson began the second with a towering fly ball to right field that was misplayed by the Perryton outfielder and resulted in an inside-the-park home run, knotting the score at 3 each. With one out, Kasyn Wooten walked ahead of a go-ahead RBI triple to left field by Wolf. Leading 4-3, Wolf scored the fifth run on Simpson’s RBI double, followed by an RBI single from Robinson to plate Simpson, an RBI triple from Wilkerson that brought home Robinson, and an RBI single from Sweaney that scored Wilkerson.

Perryton closed the gap to 8-4 in the top of the third, but the Lions answered in the bottom half with their final two runs as Wooten walked with one out, Simpson reached on a two-out error, and both scored on Robinson’s two-RBI single to left field.

The Lions continue tournament action Friday with games against Canyon West Plains at 5 p.m. and Gatesville at 7 p.m.. Then on Saturday, Brownwood will conclude its weekend action at 5 p.m. against Midland Greenwood.

“We have a tough schedule the last two days,” Bright said. “Doubleheader Friday with two quality opponents. We just need to come out and play hard and throw quality strikes and play solid defense. Play the game the right way, hustle around, and make things happen, and I think we can can do that.”