CROSS LANES, W.Va. — Less is better.

After watching his pitchers struggle with their control the first few games of the season, it was understandable why St. Joseph coach Greg Bryant was pleased when the Flyers beat the Cross Lanes Christian Warriors 5-3 Saturday.

“We played a lot better. We had a lot less errors, a lot less walks and a lot more hits,” said Bryant.

Caleb Blackburn gave up only one walk as he pitched a three-hitter and drove in two runs to get the complete game win. He struck out 11 and only two runs were earned.

The Flyers wasted little time by scoring twice in the first inning.

Payton Blair doubled, moved up on wild pitch and scored when Pat Gagai grounded out. Chad Harvey then singled, stole second and third, and came home on Blackburn’s base hit.

The lead went to 3-0 in the third inning.

With two outs, Jerrod Laber singled, moved up on a wild pitch and came home on a hit by Joe “The Shoe” Unger.

Cross Lanes scored twice in the bottom of the inning to get within 3-2.

But St. Joseph added a run in the fifth inning to go up 4-2 when Harvey singled, stole second, and rode home on a double by Blackburn.

Each team got a run in the seventh inning.

The Flyers scored when Harvey walked, stole second, moved to third on a passed ball, and came home when Laber put down a squeeze bunt.

Laber and Harvey were 2-3 and Blackburn and Blair 2-4 as St. Joseph got 10 hits.a

The Flyers (2-2) play at Harvest Christian, Ky., on Monday.

St. Joseph2010101=5102

Cross Lanes0020010=330

Caleb Blackburn and Pat Gagai. Levi Whitehead and Pralley. W-Blackburn (11-K, 1-BB, 2-ER). L-Whitehead (7-K, 3-BB). 2B-St. Joseph: Payton Blair, Caleb Blackburn; CL: Whitehead. Hitting-St. Joseph: Payton Blair 2-4, Chad Harvey 2-3, Caleb Blackburn 2-4, Jerrod Laber 2-3, Joseph Unger 1-3, Levi Hopkins 1-2. Cross Lanes: Adkins 1-1, Monk 1-3, Whitehead 1-2.