NEDERLAND — The Port Neches Indians are two wins away from the sectional tournament.

Port Neches eliminated Nederland on Thursday with a 7-6 victory in the Little League District 32 Major Tournament. The Indians now face Bridge City at home starting at 6 p.m. today. Port Neches must defeat Bridge City twice in order to advance while the Cardinals need only one win to eliminate the Indians.

Port Neches got a stellar pitching performance Thursday from Kyle Mouton. He came in to pitch during the first inning and did not leave until the sixth. He struck out three batters and allowed three hits.

Nederland got only four runs off Mouton in that stretch.

“Tonight was amazing,” Mouton said. “We are going to have to play our best tomorrow and give 100 percent.”

The Indians fell behind 1-0 after the top of the first. Nederland’s Ethan Borel scored after he walked to lead off the game.

Port Neches had the first five batters score in the bottom of the first to take a commanding 5-1 lead.

Koby Trahan, Tate Sandell, Jaxson Marchand, Caleb Faulk and K.J. Nevills all cross home for the Indians.

Nederland was able to chip away at the lead in the top of the second when Borel and Andrew Hanley each scored to make it 5-3.

Port Neches then put another two runs on the board in the bottom of the fourth as Logan Landry and Chase Shearn each scored to make it 7-3.

The Bulldogs answered right back with a run in the fifth by Gage Driskell.

Nederland made it real interesting in the top of the sixth with a pair of runs. Kyler Baker and Nash Leonard each scored for the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs had a runner on first with one out when Port Neches went to Marchand to close the game out. He got the last two Nederland batters to strike out to end the game.

“Nederland is a very good team,” Port Neches coach Bobby Chiasson said. “They battled us hard. That is what we expect in a Port Neches/Nederland game. I hate to see a loser in a game like this because someone has to go home. Both teams played a tremendous game.”

Chiasson admitted having Mouton go as long as he did was not the first plan the coaches had for the young man.

“Our goal with Mouton was to get two to three innings from him,” Chiasson said. “We could then have finished with some other pitchers throwing 20 pitches each. For him to almost finish the game was a positive for us.”

Port Neches is now staring down a Bridge City team that has not lost in the District 32 Major Tournament and defeated the Indians 11-3 this past Saturday.

“I expect the same kind of battle,” Chiasson said. “There in the first game it was 3-3 going into the fourth and there was a play that was made and the momentum swung their way. Usually that happens in a big game.

“This time we have them at home and we play pretty well at home. We are looking forward to having them come to Port Neches.”

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Gabriel Pruett: 721-2436. Twitter: @PaNewsGabe