HERMLEIGH — Albany pitchers Cade Neve and Joshua Dyer worked around eight walks and combined to strand eight Hale Center base runners in scoring position Saturday to fuel the Lions to a 5-2 win and a series sweep of the Owls in the Region I-2A semifinals at Hermleigh’s Cardinal Field.

Taking the mound just two days after junior Ben West struck out 13 in a one-hit shutout of Hale Center, Neve and Dyer surrendered three combined hits and two unearned runs while striking out 14 to help Albany to its third region championship appearance since 2016.