RALEIGH — After being thrown out at first base for the game’s final out Thursday, Green Hope’s Casey Cole pulled off his helmet and flung it to the ground in frustration.

The Falcons were flustered all afternoon by Broughton. Green Hope mananged just four runs on five hits before ending its nine-game winning streak with a 7-4 defeat in the first-round of the Bobby Murray Invitational at Millbrook High School.

“We didn’t do anything well. We didn’t do anything well the whole game,” said Green Hope coach Mike Miragliuolo. “Dylan [Kipp] averaged 25 pitches an inning. He threw 116, 117 pitches in less than five innings. If you’re getting that out of your No.1 guy, you’re in trouble.”

Kipp took the loss after allowing seven runs in 4.3 innings of work. The Falcons were without two of their top hitters, which Miragliuolo said undoubtedly affected his lineup.

“We were undermanned from what we are the rest of the year,” Mirigliuolo said. “There’s not a lot else to say when you take two of our best bats out of the lineup.”

Green Hope took a 1-0 lead in the first after David Shambley’s single drove in Eric Brady, who reached on an error.

Broughton got the run back in its half of the first thanks to a run-scoring double by Matt Brooks.

The Capitals tacked on two more runs in the third after Graham Ferguson hit a full-count, two-out single that allowed Michael Zeblo and Matt Scarboro to score.

The Falcons answered with three runs in the top of the fourth. Kerry Floyd hit into a fielder’s choice that allowed Shambley to score from third, and Nolan Poythress followed with a two-run single that gave Green Hope a 4-3 lead.

But Poythress’ hit proved to be the Falcons final one of the day.

Broughton starter T.J. Roebuck got out of the fourth, then reliever Jonathan Redd came on to pitch three perfect innings of relief.

“Our pitching did a nice job,” said Broughton coach Jim Comis. “Sometimes we didn’t help it, but our pitching kept us in the ball game, and that’s what counts.”

The Capitals, who loaded the basses in the third and fourth innings but scored just two runs, took the lead for good in the fifth after loading the bases again.

Michael Wojnarowski delivered a two-run single to put the Caps up 6-4. Matt Zeblo hit an RBI single later in the inning to push the Broughton lead to 7-4.

Green Hope plays its second-round game against Garner on Friday at 1 p.m. at Millbrook.

“We have to get more help out of people who haven’t had any pressure put on them in the past,” Miragliuolo said. “Hopefully, we’ll get people on base somehow and make something happen. Garner’s going to be tough.”

Wakefield 7, Athens 0

After taking a line drive off his hip in the first inning, Athens Drive pitcher Vance Williams was never able to establish his rhythm on the mound, and Wakefield chased the Jaguars ace after three innings Thursday.

With their No. 1 pitcher off-kilter, and their bats quiet, Athens suffered a 7-0 loss to Wakefield in its first-round game of the Bobby Murray Invitational on Friday at Wakefield.

“Their defense made the plays, and our defense didn’t,” said Athens coach Joey Bell. “We didn’t hit the ball. It was just an ugly game for us.”

Williams threw 31 pitches in the first inning and Wakefield took a 1-0 lead after one. The Wolverines added two more runs in the third, which coach Ed Hall said was crucial for his team’s confidence.

“We got up 1-0, which I thought was huge on a guy like [Williams],” Hall said. “When we were up 3-0 on him, I thought we were all right.”

Wakefield pitcher Jarrad Hayes threw a complete game two-hitter for the Wolverines. Hayes had a no-hitter through four innings before allowing a pair of singles in the fifth.

“That’s the way we want him to pitch — hit his spots, change speeds — and that’s what he did,” Hall said. “He had some innings where he threw four pitches and he was out of the inning. If you draw it up, that’s kind of the way we wanted him to do it.”

Athens hitters seemed impatient at the plate, which allowed Hayes to keep his pitch count under 100 for the game. But Bell said the problem didn’t lie with an undisciplined approach at the plate. Rather, the Jaguars just didn’t put the ball in play.

“We hit the ball right at somebody,” Bell said. “They did a good job defensively, and we didn’t put the ball in play, and we didn’t score. That’s just pitiful.”

The Jaguars play their second-round game Friday at Millbrook at 4 p.m.

“If they want to play at [Five County Stadium], they better come out ready to play,” Bell said. “If not, they’re going to be playing for last place.”

Apex, Cary victorious

Apex defeated Garner 6-2 on Thursday and the Cougars will play Broughton Friday at 4 p.m. with the chance to reach the championship game with a win.

Cary, which entered the tournament 0-10, got its first win of the season by defeating Millbrook 3-2 on the Wildcats home field. The Imps play Wakefield at 7 p.m. Friday in the tournament's second round.