PEMBROKE -- Red Springs survived a ferocious South Robeson rally for a 16-14 win in the first round of the Robeson County Slugfest on Tuesday.

The Red Devils (5-6) held a seemingly safe 14-1 lead when the Mustangs (1-8) scored a seven-spot in the fifth inning. Red Springs answered with runs in the fifth and sixth, and it was a good thing, because South Robeson put up six more in the seventh before running out of gas.

The teams combined for 31 hits and 12 errors in the game. Red Springs took an 11-1 lead with a nine-run third.

Bryan Chavis picked up the win, with Brandon Chavis earning the save.

Red Springs will take on Purnell Swett tonight at 7 in the Slugfest semifinals. The Rams were an 11-2 winner over Union Pines.

S. Robeson 001 070 6 -- 14 16 7

Red Springs 229 111 x -- 16 15 5

Batteries: SR -- Pierce, B. Hunt (3) and Clark, McColl (4); RS -- Bryan Chavis, Brandon Chavis (7) and K. Locklear.

WP: Bryan Chavis. LP: Pierce. S: Brandon Chavis.

2B: SR -- Watson; RS -- Kerns.

3B: RS -- Kerns, Henderson.

Leading hitters: SR -- J. McCallum 4-4, Watson 2-5 (3 RBIs), Jones 2-5 (3 RBIs), D. McCallum 2-2 (2 RBIs); RS -- Kerns 2-3, Henderson 3-3 (RBI), K. Locklear 2-4 (2 RBIs), Clark 2-4.

Record: South Robeson 1-8; Red Springs 5-6.

Phillips hangs tough,

St. Pauls wins

PEMBROKE -- St. Pauls starting pitcher Michael Phillips shook off a four-run first inning and struck out 10 batters as the Bulldogs knocked off Terry Sanford 11-4 in the first round of the Robeson County Slugfest.

Terry Sanford's early outburst put it up 4-2, but six errors helped St. Pauls (4-5) get back in the game and take the lead in the fifth inning. St. Pauls then put it away in the seventh with a six-run explosion.

Phillips yielded five hits in picking up the win.

St. Pauls advances to today's semifinal round, where it'll face top-seeded Lumberton at 4 p.m.

St. Pauls 200 120 6 -- 11 7 3

T. Sanford 400 000 0 -- 4 5 6

Batteries: SP -- Phillips and Lowry; TS -- Joeckel and Price.

WP: Phillips. LP: Joeckel.

2B: TS -- Joeckel.

3B: SP -- Hines.

Leading hitters: SP -- Flores 1-4 (2 RBIs), Hines 1-3 (RBI), Gaddy 1-5 (RBI); TS -- Joeckel 1-4 (2 RBIs).

Records: St. Pauls 4-5; Terry Sanford 6-5.