HESSTON, Kansas — The Cloud County Community College baseball team used a flurry of early offense to pick up its sixth win of the season on Friday, holding on late for an 8-5 victory over Hesston College.

"We played five really solid innings of baseball then kind of put it into cruise control," said Cloud County head coach Eric Gilliland. "We didn't finish the game."

Cloud County (6-4 overall) produced all eight of its runs through the game's first four innings, paced by a strong performance from redshirt freshman Jace Armstrong in his first career start.

Armstrong produced the first three-hit game of his career, finishing 3-for-3 with a pair of runs scored and three runs driving in; two coming on double that punctuated a four-run third inning for the T-Birds. He'd also add an RBI single in the fifth inning.

"Jace was ready for his opportunity and that is great to see," Gilliland said. "Our offense needed a shot of energy and he had several really quality at-bats (Friday) and he gave us a big lift."

Fellow redshirt freshman Ramon Vingochea and sophomore Cooper Schlochtermeier would each add multi-hit days, as well, with Vingochea finishing 2-of-3 with two RBI and Schlochtermeier going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI.

Unfortunately for the T-Birds, the bats went quiet after they built their 8-1 advantage through four innings, allowing the Larks the creep back into the game with two runs in the seventh and two in the eighth to pull within three at 8-5.

Freshman left-hander Trey Asher and sophomore right-hander Corben Peters were each able to put out fires in relief.

With the bases loaded and no outs, Asher was able to strike out the next three batters to put down that inning, while Peters also inherited a bases loaded, no out situation in the eighth and was able to retire three of the next four batters he faced.

Peters, who struck out three of the seven batters he faced, pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning to record his second career save.

"One silver lining (Friday) was getting bullpen guys into some tough situations and experience protecting a lead," Gilliland said. "Trey and Corben did a phenomenal job coming into tough situations and minimizing the damage."

Freshmen Josh Laukkanen and Bradan Pierce tag-teamed the first five innings for the T-Birds, with Laukkanen throwing three innings, allowing one run on three hits while striking out three.

Pierce picked up his first collegiate win with a pair of scoreless innings in relief.

Cloud County announced Friday that its road doubleheader against Northwestern Oklahoma State JV has been cancelled due to weather.

The T-Birds' next game is to be determined with more inclement weather in the forecast for parts of Kansas this weekend.