WAYNE, NE - The Auburn Bulldogs pushed four runs across through two frames of action and held on for a tight 4-2 win over the Holdrege Dusters in the first round of the District C5 Tournament in Wayne on Thursday.

Auburn starting pitcher Jackson Warner only threw those two innings, but he was still credited with the win. Warner walked three to load the bags in the top of the first, but worked out of it and didn't allow a hit while whiffing one in his performance. Christian Gage came on to toss the final five frames. Gage struck out six, walked one, gave up five hits, and allowed a pair of earned runs. At the dish, Gage had an RBI single. Landon Casey & Clayton Brown each had RBI singles & scored once, and Warner was hit by a pitch to bring home a run. Bryce Meyer & Noah Erickson scored the other Auburn runs.

Lyndon Rodewald & Nick Weides scored the two Duster runs in the fifth inning, when Holdrege put together three of its five hits for the game. Kegan Steinke took the loss for the Dusters, going the distance in defeat. Steinke gave up the four runs (three earned) on six hits with six strikeouts & just one walk.

Auburn is now 13-10, while Holdrege ends the season at 7-11. The Bulldogs will look to punch their first-ever ticket to State on Friday when they face Wayne. The Blue Devils knocked out Louisville, 12-1, in the other semifinal game.