SULPHUR – For the first time in nine years, the Hornbeck Hornets are in the state finals.

Michael Mason struck out 10 batters, while Cayden Fox drove in two runs and scored twice as the sixth-seeded Hornets knocked off the seventh-ranked Harrisonburg Bulldogs on Tuesday in the Class C semifinals at Sulphur's McMurry Park in the LHSAA state baseball tournament.

With the win, the Hornets will take on a very familiar for in district rival Hicks at 2 p.m. Saturday. Hicks throttled Downsville Charter on Tuesday, 11-1.

Hornbeck jumped out to a big lead early, scoring twice in the first inning and three times in the second to open up a 5-0 advantage over the Bulldogs, who were coming off an upset win last week over Simpson.

But Harrisonburg couldn't get a bat on the ball as Mason was practically unhittable. In fact, Mason surrendered only one hit, that coming in the top of the seventh, which led to the Bulldogs' lone run of the game.

Mason gave up one run on one hits with 10 strikeouts in the complete game.

Offensively, Fox was 2-for-2 with two runs scored and two RBIs, while Caleb Britt had a hit and two runs scored. Devyn Sharp added a hit for the Hornets.

Blake McEntyre suffered the loss, lasting only two innings, allowing five runs on one hit with two strikeouts. He had the only hit in the game for the Bulldogs, driving in Lane Dupuis in the seventh.

This article originally appeared on Leesville Daily Leader: Hornbeck reaches Class C finals