The Spalding Jaguars uncharacteristically whiffed on opportunities to score in Game 2 and it came back to haunt them as the Westside-Augusta Patriots defeated Spalding 5-1 to tie the best-of-three series at 1-game apiece in the first round of the Class AAA state baseball playoffs at Jaguar Field Friday afternoon.

The Jags (20-7) defeated Westside 6-1 in Game 1. The series now boils down to a do-or-die Game 3, which is slated for today at 1 p.m. at Jaguar Field. The teams flipped a coin after Game 2 and Westside (18-10) will be the home team for Game 3.

Spalding had chances to put the Patriots away in Game 2, but the Jags stranded 10 runners on base, including leaving the bases loaded in the third and fourth innings and leaving 2 more runners on base in the fifth with the score tied at 1-1. Westside scored its run on a fielder’s choice by Henry Rowland which knocked in Conner Doyle from third. Doyle reached on a walk, advanced to second on a passed ball and then got to third on an error.

Spalding tied the game at one in the top of the second (the Jags were the road team in Game 2). Matt Hayes singled and starting pitcher Austin Smith sacrificed him to second. Hayes then stole third and the throw by Patriots catcher Rowland rolled past third baseman Jonathan Wilson, allowing Hayes to score the tying run.

Smith actually had a no-hitter brewing until the fourth inning when Westside’s Price Dodd singled, but the wheels fell off for him in the fifth. With a runner on third and two out, Smith gave up consecutive singles and a walk to load the bases for Dodd. The junior then blooped a shot to shallow right field and Spalding’s Louis Farlow dove for the ball but couldn’t catch it, and two runs scored for the 4-1 Westside lead. The Patriots got an insurance run in the sixth for the final 5-1 margin.

Westside pitcher David Hagelston pitched a complete game, allowing the 1 unearned run on 8 hits, with 3 strikeouts and 2 walks. Smith pitched 4 2⁄3 innings, allowing 4 runs (3 earned) on 4 hits while striking out 5 and walking 4. He was relieved by Parker Powell, who pitched 1 1⁄3 innings, allowing 1 run on 2 hits with 2 strikeouts and no walks. Powell was the only Jags player with 2 hits in Game 2. Price and Mason Dodd both had 2 hits for Westside and they combined for 3 RBIs.

The winner of this series will face Carrollton High in the state second round, set for May 9. Carrollton swept its series with Riverwood 2-0 Friday evening, getting a 10-2 win in Game 1 and a 4-3 win in 9 innings in Game 2. Carrollton trailed 3-1 before rallying to tie Game 2 in the seventh inning.

Spalding 6, Westside 1 (Game 1): Casey Moody’s 3-run homer and a 2-run single by Powell Krepps in the first inning staked Spalding to a 5-0 lead and the Jags never looked back, winning Game 1 of the series 6-1. The Jags belted 11 hits in the game, with Michael Martin, Parker Powell, Matt Hayes, Austin Smith and Moody collecting 2 hits each.

Krepps helped himself on the mound as well, pitching a complete-game, 5-hitter for the win, allowing 1 run with 7 strikeouts and 5 walks.

SPALDING HIGH

Date |Opponent |Time

2/25 |LaGrange |L 2-0

3/2 |Greenbrier |L 8-5

3/6 |@ Henry Co.* |W 15-7

3/8 |@ L. Grove* |W 3-1

3/10 |Crisp Co. |L 4-0

3/12 |Drew* |W 9-0

3/14 |@ Eastside* |W 13-10

3/16 |Jackson* |W 7-6

3/20 |@ E. Landing* |W 11-0

3/22 |Stockbridge* |W 8-1

3/24 |@ Handley, Ala. |W 18-10

3/24 |@ Jacksonville, Ala. |W 7-4

3/26 |Sandy Creek* |W 7-5

3/30 |Henry Co.* |W 6-1

4/3 |Locust Grove* |W 7-6

4/5 |@ Drew* |W 9-0

4/6 |@ E. Coweta |L 8-5

4/9 |Eastside* |L 7-4

4/11 |@ Jackson* |W 16-1

4/13 |E. Landing* |W 12-2

4/17 |@ Stockbridge* |W 13-1

4/19 |@ S. Creek* |W 4-1

4/21 |Northside-Col. |W 7-6

4/27 |East Coweta |W 11-1

4/28 |@ Crisp Co. |L 5-3

*****STATE PLAYOFFS*****

5/4 |Westside-Aug. |W 6-1

5/4 |Westside-Aug. |L 5-1

5/5 |Westside-Aug. |1:00