NEDERLAND — The setting was perfect with Nederland getting a one-game playoff against Mont Belvieu Barbers Hill at Nederland’s field. On the hill was senior powerhouse Brett Brown who has shut down some of the best District 20-4A hitters during his season of dominance.

With everything leaning the way of the ’Dogs it was a surprise when Brown struggled, albeit just enough, to give the Eagles the edge they needed to walk away with a 5-2 Class 4A bidistrict win Thursday night.

The Bulldogs’ season ended with 11 base runners left standing unfulfilled in a game where one inning made the difference.

Nederland jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first as No. 2 hitter Seth Barrow slapped a double to start the inning and Gabe Nevala followed with a walk. Kanton Richard sacrificed to push the two base runners to second and third and Trent Fontenot was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Mitchell Sanderson picked up the RBI sac fly to plate Barrow.

With a 1-2-3 sit-down in the first inning, it appeared Brown’s dominance would be a steady thread through this single-game playoff showdown. Barbers Hill had other ideas though.

After Blake Bonnin reached first on a Nederland error, Brown relinquished four straight walks to allow BH to tie the game at 1-1. A single by Austin Homan brought home two more for a 3-1 advantage before Brown got back on track with a strikeout to record the first out of the inning. A throwing error to the plate on a fielder’s choice hit by Tyler Newcomb pushed the BH lead to 4-1.

With just one hit to go with two Nederland errors, the Eagles had all the lead they would need to take this one to the next round of the 4A playoffs.

The Eagles added another run in the fifth when Newcomb came home from third on a wild pitch for a 5-1 lead.

Nederland responded with a run in the bottom of the fifth with a two-out double by Brian Feltman followed by an RBI single by Brown. The rally ended with the bases loaded on a fly to center field.

Brown pitched a complete game with 11 strikeouts while Barbers Hill’s pitching trio accounted for seven strikeouts in the game.

Barbers Hill advances to the area round of the 4A playoffs where the Eagles will face the winner of the Humble-Magnolia bidistrict game.