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RALEIGH -- With an ace like McMichael's Joseph Hughes on the mound, logic says you're in good shape if you put a few runs on the board. And when you put up 16, well, good shape is an understatement.

McMichael scored 12 runs in the first two innings against Morganton's Patton (27-8) in the first game of the 2-A state baseball championship Friday, and the offensive onslaught produced a 16-6, five-inning victory to put the Fighting Phoenix a game away from a title.

"When your team hits like that, it makes it easy on the pitcher," McMichael coach Mike Dalton said.

Steven Trant will pitch for McMichael (26-6) in the second game of the series today at 11 a.m. as the Phoenix tries to close it out. If necessary, a third game would be at 5 p.m.

There was rain coming down during warm-ups at N.C. State's Doak Field on Friday, but that eventually faded after the game began.

Things couldn't have gotten off to a better start for McMichael in the first inning. Hughes pitched around a hit and an error in the top half, and the Phoenix's first four hitters reached base en route to four runs.

Center fielder Ethan Satterfield started that rally by knocking a lead-off single to left and stealing second.

"It brings my confidence up, but it brings the whole team's up because it shows that if I can do it, everybody else can do it pretty much," he said.

That seemed to give Hughes, who had a 1.08 ERA entering the game, plenty to work with, but he was far from untouchable in the second inning.

Patton No. 9 hitter Nick Newton sent a rocket over the left-center field wall for a three-run homer, and it looked like it would be a close game.

Wrong.

As it turned out, McMichael's four straight baserunners to start the first inning were just a tease for their performance in the second.

This time the first seven reached (four singles, two doubles and an error), and by the time Craig Erskine flied out for the third out in his second at-bat of the inning, McMichael had eight more runs to make it 12-3.

"I'm not saying we can't get shut out, but I like our chances," Dalton said. "I like the way we swing the bat."

A bit of icing came in the fourth on Satterfield's homer to deep right-center, and another run followed as McMichael was able to end the game after the top of the fifth with a 10-run lead.

Though Hughes didn't have his most dominant outing, it was more than enough with the support. He pitched all five innings -- striking out nine and allowing three earned runs.

"I didn't feel good from the beginning, really," he said. "I didn't have my best stuff tonight, but it doesn't help, all the rain and stuff."

McMichael did not face Newton, Patton's ace with 10 wins and a 2.93 ERA.

"They've got a good team. They're going to put the ball in play, and they're going to put the ball in play tomorrow," Dalton said. "It's just a matter of who keeps it in a row."

Contact Jesse Baumgartner at 373-7091 or jesse.baumgartner@news-record.com

Patton 0 3 1 2 0 -- 6 5 1

McMichael 4 8 2 2 x -- 16 18 3

W: Joseph Hughes (10-1) L:Aaron Attaway (5-2)

Records--McMichael (26-6), Patton (27-8).