Warren East's Davion Downey scores a run during their win over Franklin-Simpson on Friday, April 14, 2017, at Warren East. (Austin Anthony/photo@bgdailynews.com)

Warren East is reaping the benefits of aggressive approaches against the best teams in Region 4. The Raiders won their fifth straight game Friday night thanks to an explosive fifth inning in an 8-7 victory over Franklin-Simpson at Warren East High School.

Warren East (11-4) rallied from a two-run deficit with five runs in the bottom of the fifth to spoil a career night from Jacob Curtis, who homered three times for Franklin-Simpson (12-2).

The win avenges an early season 9-2 loss to the Wildcats, whose only loss entering Friday was to Logan County. Meanwhile, Warren East looks to continue its winning streak – which includes a 10-3 win at Logan County on Monday – by going for the two-game series win at Franklin-Simpson on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

“It builds our confidence,” Raiders senior Matt Alford said. “Earlier in the week we beat Logan County and we just built off that coming into this game.”

The Raiders totaled 10 hits to earn coach Wes Sanford his 200th career victory.

Warren East climbed out of a 3-0 deficit early after Curtis hit a two-run home run in the first and an RBI single from Ryan Dorris made it 3-0.

Ryan Hawks launched his second home run of the season over the left-field wall to cut the Raiders’ deficit to 3-1 in the bottom of the second inning.

Warren East loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth and tied the game on Alford’s sacrifice fly and a fielder’s choice.

Raiders starting pitcher Tyler Jones settled down for three innings after allowing two runs in the first. That was until he faced Curtis again in the fifth.

After Jackson Caudill popped out to right, Curtis took Jones’ last pitch to the same spot over the left-field fence for another home run. Dakota Basham moved over from shortstop to relieve Jones and never could quite find his groove.

Basham allowed a single to Jordan Jones, who worked his way to third on a series of wild pitches. He walked Hunter Janes before Quentin Kitchens hit a hard grounder into center field to score Jones to extend the Wildcats’ lead to 5-3.

Basham walked Clay Spears to load the bases and was quickly replaced by Andrew McWhorter. The junior got Dorris to hit a one-hopper to Basham back at short, who forced Janes out at home. Tyler Kummer popped out to right field to get McWhorter out of the bases-loaded jam.

Contrary to the Wildcats, the Raiders capitalized on their opportunities.

Warren East loaded the bases with three straight hits, forcing Matthew Crittenden to replace Rylan Thomas on the mound.

Hawks and Alford hit back-to-back RBIs to tie the game and Colson Elkins drew a bases-loaded walk to push the Raiders in front. A sacrifice fly from pinch hitter Dakota Campbell and an error gave Warren East an 8-5 lead.

“The guys continue to grind,” Sanford said. “Tonight, they got up 3-0 and we didn’t quit. We did a good job of making adjustments at the plate and we got lucky. We hit some balls where they couldn’t really make a play and that’s just how baseball is. Sometimes you get the breaks and sometimes you don’t, and we got them tonight.

“They’re starting to get to where they compete and that’s where we want to be by the end of the year. When you play hard, good things happen for you.”

Curtis punished Warren East once again for pitching to him. He took Grant Turner deep for a two-run homer to pull within 8-7. His three home runs Friday night tied him for second-most ever in the state for a single game, grouping him with a long list of hitters who also have three. Curtis now has six home runs this season.

“I just went up there with a good approach,” Curtis said. “I’m feeling pretty confident. I’ve been getting a lot more off-speed … so I was waiting back on that and I went with it.”

Alford came in to pitch and forced Franklin-Simpson into back-to-back groundouts to end the sixth.

Tyler Kummer grounded into a 5-4-3 double play in the top of the seventh to end the game.

Franklin-Simpson will host South Warren at 11 a.m. before hosting the Raiders later that afternoon. Dorris will earn the start for the Wildcats and Clay Wagoner will likely start for Warren East.

FSHS 210 022 0 – 7

WEHS 010 250 X – 8

WP: McWhorter. LP: Crittenden.