Minden Crimson Tide forced the quarter final playoffs to three games but couldn’t bring it home.

North Vermilion Patriots defeated the Tide 7-1 in Game 3 (Saturday’s second game), thanks in part to five runs in the fifth inning.

Brody Bower doubled, which helped Minden tie the game at one in the top of the third. Patriots scored five runs on four hits in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Colt Lejeune earned the win for the Patriots. He surrendered six hits and one run over seven innings, striking out five and walking none.

Zander Rowell took the loss. The lefty went four innings, surrendering three runs on five hits, striking out none and walking two.

Bower went 3 for 3 at the plate as the 3-hole hitter led the team with one run batted in.

Game 2

Minden Crimson Tide 2, North Vermilion 0

Both teams were strong on the bump in Saturday’s noon game, but Minden was able to take down Patriots 2-0. Jaxon Smith started the game for Minden and recorded 21 outs.

The Tide opened the scoring in the first after Landyn Huddleston singled, scoring one run.

Smith earned the win. The eighty gave up eight hits and no runs over seven innings, striking out one and walking two.

Patriots’ Blaze Duhon went six innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits, striking out seven and walking one.

Huddleston, Landyn Brewer and Jakobe Jackson each collected a hit for Minden. Huddleston and Hudson Brown were tough to handle back-to-back in the lineup, as each drove in one run.

Game 1

Minden Crimson Tide 2, North Vermilion Patriots 6

In the first of the three game series Friday, Minden Crimson Tide fell to North Vermilion.

The Tide got on the board in the top of the fourth inning after Brody Bower singled and Landyn Huddleston hit into a fielder’s choice, each scoring one run.

Patriots tied the game in the bottom of the fourth, thanks to two singles.

In the bottom of the fifth, Patriots broke the tie when Bower enticed Cody Breaux to hit into a fielder’s choice but one run scored. Then a double followed to extend the lead to 5-2.

Bower stepped on the mound first for Minden. The righty allowed six hits and five runs over four and two-thirds innings, striking out six and walking three.

Isaac Russell gave up two hits and two runs (one earned) over seven innings, striking out seven and walking none.

Bower and Jakobe Jackson each collected one hit for Minden. Huddleston and Bower each drove in one run.