Beaufort County Post 15 preserved its place at the top of the Area 1 standings on Saturday after splitting a double-header with Windsor Post 37 at Washington High School’s Futrell Field. The Pirates fell in Game 1, 3-2, before a seventh-inning comeback lifted them to an 8-7 win in Game 2.

The Pirates sent No. 2 Tripp Barfield to the hill in Game 1 and the rising junior from Washington was masterful through the early innings. Trusting what’s been a shaky defense of late, Barfield forced Windsor to put the ball in play, as the infield answered the call and limited errors down the stretch. Despite only striking out two batters through seven innings, he allowed just six runners to reach — three hits and three hit batters.

But after an RBI single from Barfield scored Cody Godley in the first inning, runs would come at a premium for Post 15. After five, with score was deadlocked at one, Windsor finally got to Barfield.

Some control issues and a pair of hits gave the visitors a 3-1 lead. Godley reached on an error in the bottom of the sixth and later came around to score after hits by Logan Little and Matthew Black, but the tying run would elude Beaufort County.

The defensive anxieties that haunted the host last week reappeared in Game 2, as the Pirates combined for five errors in what was a disappointing follow up after a relatively clean Game 1.

Starter Chase Sauls, a spot starter who has spent most of the season as a late-inning relief option, lasted just two innings, giving up two runs on three hits and two walks. Brantley Cutler struggled in relief, but in the end would pick up the win. A clean seventh inning earned Tanner Alligood the save.

With Windsor leading 2-1, Post 15 broke the score open with three runs in the third inning on hits from Godley, Little and Barfield. Windor would respond with a run in the third and a run in the fourth, but a two-out, extra base hit from Black gave the Pirates a 5-4 lead.

Post 37 erased the host’s advantage in the fifth and tacked on another run in the sixth. After six complete innings, Windsor held a 7-6 lead. But once again, Post 15 had an answer.

With Barfield on first, Brock Marsh smashed a triple to the fence, scoring Barfield and placing the winning run on third. A batter later, a fly out to center from Hunter Sparks plated the winning run.

“Windsor is a very strong team, a very good team,” said head coach Glenn Marsh. “Both games were hard fought in 95-degree weather. The kids showed a lot of heart in that last game to be down and come back, get a split, after being out there six hours in that heat. It was just another example of them finding a way to get a done. It’s like every game someone else steps up. Nothing ever surprises me any more.”

Little finished the day 4-for-7 with an RBI, while Barfield went 2-for-7 with two RBIs.

With the win, Post 15 improves to 10-4 (7-2 Area 1) and will host Hertford County at Washington High School on Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.