EBEN JUNCTION — Senior Adrian Mercier stayed ahead of the hitters for the most part here Friday, helping the Powers North Central Jets post a 5-2 baseball victory over the Superior Central Cougars in the second game of a doubleheader.

The Cougars broke into the win column for the first time this season in a 13-4 conquest of the Jets in the opener.

Mercier struck out 17, including nine of the first 10 hitters he faced. He retired every opposing hitter in the contest except senior Blake Walther, who recorded three extra-base hits in his three trips to the plate in the Skyline Central Conference match-up.

“Adrian pitched a great game,” Jets’ coach Ben Snyder said. “He’s still battling a few lingering injuries, but he hits his spots. Adrian is doing everything he can and being a leader. Blake is a great ballplayer. He hits the gaps and has a lot of power. He also pitched a good game. He throws hard and is accurate.”

Mercier also allowed two walks as the Jets improved to 7-5 overall.

“I was pretty impressed with him,” Cougars’ coach Greg Mannisto said. “We were swinging right through his pitches. It was just like we didn’t have a bat in our hands. Although, Blake had a good night hitting.”

The Jets secured the nightcap by scoring three times while taking advantage of three errors in the sixth inning.

Jordan Walters scored North Central’s third run on an error. Evan Hancheck made it 4-1 on a fielder’s choice and Anthony Junek then scored on Mercier’s sacrifice fly to centerfield for a 5-1 advantage.

“We gave them extra outs which has been our downfall all year,” Mannisto said. “We have a good bunch of seniors. They’re not panicking. We enjoy playing them. It’s usually a good battle when we play them.”

Walther, who tripled to center, scored the Cougars’ second run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the sixth.

Freshman Caden Malone gave the Jets a 1-0 lead on a fielder’s choice in the opening frame.

Senior Brad VanDamme tied the score on a passed ball in the fourth.

The Jets regained the lead on a single to left by senior Jake Poquette in the fifth.

“All four seniors lead our team well,” Snyder said. “They rallied the troops between games. We were disappointed in our effort in the first game which gave us a lot of motivation for the second game.”

North Central collected six hits, including two apiece by Poquette and Malone.

Walter, who took the loss, fanned six and walked four. Beside his triple in the sixth, Walther doubled to right in the first and fourth.

Cougars’ senior Trent Rutter struck out eight, walked one and scattered four hits in the opener.

“My fastball worked well,” he said. “He couldn’t find my curveball and tried to mix it up, although I was able to throw enough curves to keep them off balance. It feels great to get the first win. We have some good players. We just have to get warmed up.”

Sophomore Brooks Castle gave the Jets a 4-2 lead on a single to left in the third.

Walther brought the Cougars within a run on a wild pitch in their half of the third.

Junior Drew Begovac tied the score on a fielder’s choice and Rutter gave the Cougars a 5-4 on a bases-loaded walk in the fourth.

VanDamme and Walther gave Superior Central a 7-4 cushion on wild pitches. The Cougars then capitalized on several wild pitches and passed balls while adding four runs for an 11-4 advantage after four.

North Central’s pitching woes continued in the fifth as the Cougars pushed two more runs across in the fifth.

The teams meet for another twinbill at 4 p.m. Tuesday in Hermansville.