A four-run first inning put the Martin Luther King Jr. Lions in front on the way to an 11-4 Region 5-5 high school baseball victory over the Lithonia Bulldogs on Wednesday afternoon at Lithonia.

The Lions (3-0, 2-0) had won the previous meeting last week and the quick start keyed by a Nate Flemister RBI single in the four-run first. Lithonia pitcher Zaylyn Davis worked out of the inning with two strikeouts and pop up to first against the last three batters of the inning.

Lithonia took advantage of three errors by the Lions defense behind starter Jeremiah Williams to close the gap to 4-3. Xavier Cottrell’s RBI single was the lone hit in the inning.

Both teams failed to score in the second inning before each putting up a run in third to keep the Lions ahead 5-4 heading into the fourth. Flemister had a leadoff double, stole third and scored on a wild pitch for the Lions’ run in the third. Wali Washington reached on an error and scored on Stephen Taylor’s RBI single to left for Lithonia’s run to keep the game within one run.

A six-run inning in the fourth sealed the win for the Lions aided by Skylon Jackson’s RBI single. Calvin Carter and Zemual Green were both hit-by-a-pitch with the bases loaded to drive in runs along with a bases-loaded walk to Taylor Dorsey to extend the lead to seven.

Lithonia got a runner on in the bottom of the inning but was cut down trying to steal second by Flemister’s throw to the bag. Relief pitcher Daelyn House struck out the final two batters to end the game.

Flemister finished 2-2 at the plate with two RBI, two stolen bases and scored two runs for the Lions. Stephen Taylor and Xavier Cottrell had RBI singles to lead the Bulldogs (0-2, 0-2).