FARMINGTON — The Franklin County 13-15-year old Babe Ruth team lost to Apple Valley twice in the state tournament. But as host of the New England regional, Franklin jumped on the chance to take a game from their rivals.

Franklin County scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to break a tie and take a 5-3 win in the first round of the regional tournament.

Franklin County will play Manchester, N.H in a winners’ bracket game at 7 tonight. Apple Valley faces Leominster, Mass in an elimination game at 1 p.m.

With one out in the bottom of the fifth, Andrew Pratt singled and went to second base on a throwing error. After taking third on a wild pitch, Pratt scored on a wild pitch to give Franklin a 4-3 lead.

Chad Luker scored on a passed ball later in the inning to give Franklin some insurance.

Cam Abbott, who missed the first game against Apple Valley in the state tournament because of a sprained ankle, pitched well for Franklin County, working into the sixth inning. Abbott struck out four and walked three before giving way to Ryan Greenman, who struck out four of the five hitters he faced for the save.

Franklin County scored a pair of runs in the second inning. After loading the bases on two walks and an infield single, Greenman singled to center to score Zak Kendall. A wild pitch scored Jon Hart to give Franklin a 2-0 lead.

Franklin manufactured a run in the bottom of the fourth inning. With two out, Scottie Hall singled, took second on a wild pitch, and scored on Greenman’s single to right field.

Apple Valley tied the game with three unearned runs in the top of the fifth. Zach Elwell, who led off the inning with a single, scored on a two-out error. Brady Dion scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-2, and Tyler Hutchinson scored on Levi Morin’s single to tie the game at 3-3.

Apple Valley had chances to score early, but stranded four runners on base through the first four innings.