JESUP, Ga. — Flowery Branch now faces elimination after a 9-1 Game 2 loss to Wayne County in the best-of-three Class 4A road series Tuesday.
The Falcons won Game 1, 2-0, and were in a good position to sweep the Yellow Jackets. However, the wheels fell off in the second game for the Falcons.
Flowery Branch committed five errors, walked 11 and gave up five hits on the day. Wayne County took advantage, scoring seven straight runs in the fourth and fifth innings to blow open the game, 7-0 after five.
Flowery Branch's lone run came in the sixth inning.
In Game 1, Jackson Freeman tagged up on a Luke Stone fly ball to centerfield to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead in the top of the second. Tyler Folkers added an insurance run in the top of the fifth when he scored on a Yellow Jacket error to lead 2-0.
Jacob Miller was strong on the hill for the Falcons, surrendering six hits, two Ks and two walks in 5 2/3 scoreless innings. Jones Lawler threw one and two-thirds innings, allowing one hit, striking out two and walking none.
Luke Stone went 1-for-3 at the plate and led the team with one run batted in. Freeman went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead the Falcons.
Game 3 is set for Wednesday in Jesup. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.
HABERSHAM CENTRAL 7, 0
SOUTH PAULDING 3, 3
The Raiders scattered seven runs across five innings and held the Spartans to just three runs to win Game 1 of the best-of-three Class 5A series on the road Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Spartans took Game 2, 3-0, to force the rubber match on Thursday.
In Game 1, the Raiders scored three in the second inning to take the early 3-0 lead, but the Spartans tied the game with a three-run third inning.
The Raiders broke the tie in the fourth inning when Maverick Chitwood doubled, scoring a run, and a Mason Witt RBI single pushed the Raiders’ lead to 5-3.
Callum Spivey extended the lead, 7-3, in the fifth inning when he hammered a two-run home run to right field.
Ethan Wheeler picked up the win for the Raiders on the mound.
Hudson Gailey was 2-for-3 at the plate, while Spivey and Chitwood drove in two runs each.
In Game 2, the Spartans struck first with a two-run fourth inning when J Musgroves and C Bates scored for a 2-0 lead. South Paulding added one more run in the sixth inning.
Game 3 is set for Wednesday. First pitch is 4 p.m. at South Paulding.
ST. PIUS X 2, 7
EAST FORSYTH 1 (9 inn), 2
St. Pius X completed the sweep with a 7-2 win in Game 2 of the best-of-three Class 4A series in Atlanta on Tuesday.
The Golden Lions grabbed the lead for good in the fourth inning on a Charles Ashe ground-out RBI, an EaFo error, and a Royce Woodson RBI double, taking a 4-1 lead.
St. Pius added three more runs in the sixth inning.
In Game 1, Andrew Biggers' RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning gave St. Pius X the Game 1 win in the best-of-three Class 4A series in Atlanta on Tuesday.
Early on, the Golden Lions led, 1-0, but the Broncos tied the game in the third inning off an RBI single from Makayle Moon.
Then it turned into a pitcher’s duel. Colton Sumpter earned the win for the Golden Lions, giving up seven hits and one run over eight innings, including five strikeouts.
Meanwhile, East Forsyth's Grant Barden was just as good, giving up one run on six hits while striking out eight.
BASEBALL 2nd ROUND PLAYOFF SCOREBOARD FOR Tuesday, April 29
Class 6A
North Paulding 4, 2, Buford 3, 0
Class 5A
Habersham Central 7, 0, South Paulding 3, 3
Class 4A
St. Pius X 2, 7, East Forsyth 1, 2
Flowery Branch 2, 1 Wayne County 0, 9
