CENTRAL POINT, OR – The Pepsi Bottlecaps rallied from a two-run deficit to win 5-2 against North Marion in the first round of the Class A American Legion baseball state tournament on Wednesday.

Starting pitcher Zack Mandera settled in after giving up a run in the first inning. He allowed only one more run the rest of the way and held North Marion off the scoreboard from the fourth inning on. Mandera earned the complete game victory, striking out eight hitters and walking just one.

Pepsi’s offense was slow out of the gate, but picked up in the fourth inning. Alex Muck drove in the first run for the Bottlecaps in a pinch hit appearance. Brett Jackson scored later in the fourth to tie the game after North Marion tried to turn a double play on a ground ball off the bat of Garrett Russell, but was too slow on the relay to first.

The Bottlecaps took the lead in the fifth inning on a two out single by Jackson and they added two more runs in the sixth on an error by the North Marion pitcher and a sacrifice fly by Luke Lucido.

Pepsi advances to the second round and will face the winner of Central Point and Santiam at 6 p.m. on Thursday.