The Salem baseball team got the 2012 Region 8-AAAA playoffs started off with a bang.

The Salem Seminoles defeated Flowery Branch 8-7 in 12 innings putting them one game away from the state playoffs in what coach Chad Kitchens called "one of the best high school games I've ever been a part of."

Salem had a five-run lead going into the eighth inning before the Falcons came back to tie it up.

In the 12th inning the Salem Seminoles broke the stalemate of extra innings and finally got a hit from Eric Bechet, who went on to score the winning run.

"Eric really led tonight in all phases," Kitchens said. "I was very proud of our effort. We showed a lot of poise and resiliency to win that game."

Bechet finished with three hits and an RBI, while pitching six innings giving up five runs, three earned, with two strikeouts and three walks.

Adam Hood came on to pitch 4 1/3 innings of relief, giving up a run on two hits for the Salem Seminoles (6-9, 8-16).

Chase Duncan had three hits, Zach Bailey had two hits, including a triple and two stolen bases and Cole Gibson had a hit, two RBI and three walks for Salem. Josh Webster and Jordan Scott had a hit each with Scott driving in two runs, including one on a squeeze bunt.

Salem will play at Flowery Branch again today.