The FMS Rockets took a pair of yellow bus trips to Fayetteville on Friday and Liberty on Saturday and came away with a sweep over their conferences foes to improve to 6-2 overall and 5-1 in Mid-South Conference competition.

On Friday, the Rockets took care of business early in Lincoln County, scoring six runs in the top of third inning on their way to a 9-1 win.

"Fayetteville has a good team," said FMS head coach Bart Joyce. "We again had a great performance pitching and on defense, but our bats finally came around the last two games."

Forrest banged out nine hits in the contest with Jacob Jones (two runs scored, stolen base) and Dustin Brashear (RBI) leading the offensive attack with two hits apiece, while Nathan Trout (RBI), Luke Cunningham, Alex Huey (RBI), Hunter Beckman (RBI), and Lane LaPorte all had one hit.

Marshall McKee also had one ribbie in the game and Jonathan Lykins drove home two Rocket base runners and turned in another solid performance on the mound, going the distance for the victory.

Lykins tossed a four-hitter, walked none and gave up zero earned runs, while striking out a dozen Tigers in the game.

"Friday against Fayettville was an all-around good performance," said Joyce. "Defensively and offensively, we played well."

On Saturday, the battle was on with the Liberty Patriots and it turned out to be a good ballgame, especially for the Rockets, who left Bedford County with a 5-3 win.

"We just played our game and came up with a big win," said Joyce. "I'm very proud of this team."

After a scoreless first inning, the Rockets got on the board with a single run in the top of the second, beginning with a one-out walk by Brashear, followed by a double from Jordan Jent and an RBI fielder's choice by LaPorte.

Liberty came back to tie the game in the bottom of the third inning before the Rockets came up with single runs in the fourth and fifth innings to take a 3-1 lead.

LaPorte drove home Ryan Moses to account for the third inning score and a Patriots' infield miscue allowed Lykins to cross home plate in the fourth inning.

Liberty re-knotted the contest at 3-3 in the fifth inning, knocking FMS starter McKee off the hill.

McKee gave up eight hits, walked six, and struck out two Patriot batters in 4 1/3 innings of work.

Jones came on to get the final two outs in the fifth inning and the Rockets came right back, scoring the go-ahead run in the top of the sixth as Jones drew a leadoff walk and scored after three consecutive passed balls.

Jones held the Pats in check in the bottom of the sixth, retiring Liberty 1-2-3.

Jent gave Jones a little breathing room in the seventh when he provided his teammate with an insurance run, knocking in Huey with an RBI double.

"McKee and Jones teamed up on the mound to pull out a great win," said Joyce. "Again, our bats came through for us to get us on top. We got hits in the last two innings to get us on top and we were able to hold to the lead to come up with a very big win."

Jones snared a line drive for the first out in the bottom of the seventh before Jones induced a grounder to Jent at third for out number two, and the game ended on a ground ball to Cunningham at short.

"It was a very tough week with six combined varsity and JV games and we came out with five wins," said Joyce. "Hopefully, we can keep this going as we go into another big week of conference games with Conersville and Moore County."

Jent (RBI) had two hits in the contest, while LaPorte (two RBIs), Jones, Lykins, and Jaylen Smith all had one base knock apiece.