ANDOVER, Mass. – Bridgewater’s Brandon Moyer scattered five hits and pitched his way out of a fifth-inning jam on Thursday to lead his team to a 4-1 win over Pittsfield in the opening game of the 12-year-old Little League State Tournament.

 

Section 1 Champion Pittsfield drops into the losers bracket of the double-elimination tournament and will face Melrose on Friday evening to stay alive.

 

Bridgewater Friday night will take on Acton-Boxboro, an 8-4 winner over Melrose on Friday, for a berth in Sunday’s state final.

 

Bridgewater’s Moyer struck out eight and walked one in pitching his team to the tournament semi-finals.

 

Pittsfield coach Ty Perrault was not sure why his team struggled to get solid contact most of the day in Friday’s opener.

 

“It might have been the travel,” he said. “It’s a two and a half hour ride. We’ve traveled before, but it was the first time in a while.”

 

Pittsfield played all three of its Section 1 Tournament games at Deming Park, which also was the site of the District 1 Tournament.