For six fabulous innings, Bowie's Miguel Mata and Hanks' Ruben Alcala went head-to-head in a classic pitching duel to open their postseasons.
In the seventh, the Bears' Nathan Felix gave Mata something to show for it.
Felix's two-out RBI double helped Mata's two-hit complete-game gem stand up as Bowie took the opener of the three-game series, 2-1. The series continues at 10 a.m. Saturday at Bowie High School.
"This was big because it was the first playoff game," said Mata, who gave up a hit in the one run Hanks second and another in the sixth, as he needed just 88 pitches to finish it off.