Norway's Payton Thompson prepares to hit the ball against North Central Thursday in Hermansville. (Justin St. Ours/The Daily Press)

HERMANSVILLE — The North Central baseball team was swept in its third and fourth games of the season against the Norway Knights here Thursday.

Norway won by scores of 9-2 and 5-3.

The Knights (8-1) took an early lead in the first game, leading 5-2 by the third inning.

Neither team scored until the top of the fifth, when the Knights scored four runs. Kody Hendricks, Isaac Ray and Nolan Amundson all crossed home on wild pitches and Brett Turini was able to push Gannon Bray across directly after to seal the game.

Bray earned the win on the mound for Norway and Carter Holle took the loss for the Jets (0-4).

“We got a couple of gift runs in the first couple innings and they had their seniors gone for the first couple innings,” Knights’ coach Randy Van Gasse said. “We hit the ball fairly well. It’s one of those situations where you’re pounding the ball, but it’s right at people. But we just kept at it and kept at it.”

North Central dropped the second game 5-3 over five innings.

Neither team was able to make anything happen in the first inning, quickly changing places. The Knights took the lead in the top of the second thanks to a single to center from Chase Carlson that drove home two.

Norway tacked on another run in the top of the third to lead 3-0, when a groundout allowed Trey Doda to score.

However, the Jets fired back in the bottom of the inning as Wyatt Riley and Holle both drove in runs. North Central left the third with its deficit cut to 3-2.

The Knights collected two more runs in the top of the fourth thanks to Evan Anderson and Carlson, who both scored on groundouts from Payton Thompson and Turini.

North Central pushed one more in during the bottom half to cut its deficit to 5-3.

But the Jets were unable to capitalize and both teams went down quickly in the fifth.

“I was happy we were able to cut down on errors and put the bat on the ball more in the second game,” Jets’ coach Chad Holle said. “With the amount of field time we’ve had, I’m happy with where we’re at.”

Van Gasse identified some areas his team could improve on.

“We talked after this game about hitting your pitch rather than the pitcher’s pitch, and working on defensive hitting when you have two strikes,” he said. “We’ve got to work first and third a little differently.”

However, Van Gasse was pleased with its overall performance.

“I was very pleased our pitchers went the distance, but at the same time, with this weather, you worry about your pitcher’s arms,” he said. “North Central clearly has some talent on their team. When they get some more games under their belt they’re going to be a tough team to beat.”

Doda earned the win for the Knights over five innings. He struck out seven and allowed seven hits, three runs and one walk. Carlson notched two hits, two RBIs and one run. Thompson, Amundson and Turini all finished with an RBI.

Wyatt Riley took the loss for the Jets, allowing five runs on six hits and three walks. Holle and Riley both collected two hits and one RBI.

Norway visits Crivitz today, while North Central visits Superior Central Monday.