Noah Smith’s early threat could not stop Rockwall from beating Wylie 9-2 in Game 2 of their Class 6A Division I bi-district series Thursday. The split forces a winner-take-all Game 3 at noon Saturday at Forney High School.

Wylie nearly scored the game’s first run. Noah Smith opened with a line-drive single, stole second and reached third on a groundout. A diving catch by Yellowjacket left fielder Hudson Holt then robbed Preston Camp of a run-scoring hit.

Rockwall answered with a burst of offense in the first. A mix-up on a bunt led to an off-target throw that allowed a run. A failed pickoff attempt at third produced a wide throw and another run. Reid Overstreet added an RBI groundout and Zach Barnes followed with an RBI single to make it 4-0.

The Yellowjackets made it 5-0 on an RBI groundout by Dylan Cheek. Wylie got on the board in the third. Two bunts rolled fair along the foul line. Aiden Beck reached after a dropped throw, and Camp’s sacrifice bunt scored a run to cut the gap to 5-2.

Pitchers Wyatt Wynne and Cooper Watts kept Wylie within reach through the middle innings. But a fourth-inning fly ball fell just out of reach of two diving Wylie outfielders, allowing Cheek to reach third with a triple. He scored on a wild pitch to push the lead to 7-2.

Rockwall added two more runs in the sixth. The first came on a sacrifice fly. A throwing error produced the second, extending the advantage to 9-2 and sealing the victory.

Both teams now turn their attention to Game 3 at Forney. Wylie needs cleaner defense and timely hits to extend its season. Rockwall will try to carry its momentum into the deciding game and finish the series.