HOUSTON — Using a huge eight-run first inning, the Waco Robinson Rockets took down the Little Cypress-Mauriceville Bears 12-2 in six innings in Game One of their best-of-three Class 4A Region III Finals series Thursday night at the University of Houston.

Game Two will shift to Sam Houston State University in Huntsville today at 5 p.m. Game Three, if necessary, will follow 30 minutes after Game Two.

The Rockets (28-3) picked up 13 hits off three LC-M (24-11) pitchers nd also took advantage of eight walks.

Robinson pitcher Dru Dziedzic went all six innings, scattering four LC-M hits while fanning four and walking four.

After the Bears went down in the first inning on three ground ball outs, the Rockets struck in the bottom half of the frame, scoring eight runs on six hits.

Zac Boyett reached on an error at third and Mason Cooper followed with a tough bunt single off LC-M starting pitcher Slade Green. The Bears then intentionally walked Tanner James to load the bases.

Braxton Ashcraft drew a walk, allowing Boyett to trot in to score.

Dru Dziedzic followed with a sharp two-run single to right to plate both Cooper and James. After Grant Reel placed a nice bunt single down the third base line to load the bases, Peyton Powell scored Ashcraft with a sacrifice fly to left.

Rhett Roznos brought in the fifth run with an infield single. Tee Johnson followed with a bunt single.

Getting back to the top of the order, Boyett drew a bases loaded walk to allow Reel to come in to score.

Bryce Peasley then came in to relief Green on the LC-M hill. Green went 1/3 of an inning, allowing five hits and three walks.

With two outs, James shot a two-run single to left centerfield for a 8-0 Rockets’ edge.

LC-M went down1-2-3 in the top half of the second while the Rockets struck for another run in the bottom half.

Dziedzic had a leadoff single past first while Reel and Powell drew back-to-back walks. Courtesy runner Johnson made it 9-0 when he brought home courtesy runner Cole Hughes with a sacrifice fly to right.

The Bears got their sticks going in the top of the third with two outs by putting together three straight hits.

Seth Dronett got the rally moving with a single to center and Drake Trawhon drilled a single to right. Vinny Hale made Dziedzic pay went he sent a two-run double to left.

With one out in the bottom of the fifth, Peasley walked James and was replaced on the mound by Trawhon. Peasley worked four innings, allowing four hits while striking out five and walking four.

After Ashcraft walked, Dziedzic would come up with his third hit, sending a RBI single to right to score James. Reel then brought home Ashcraft with a sacrifice fly to make it 11-2.

The Rockets put up a run in the bottom of the sixth to end it.

Johnson had a one-out single up the middle. Boyett and Cooper followed with infield singles and James brought home Johnson with a sacrifice fly to centerfield.