The Swainsboro Tigers took 2 of 3 games from Bacon County last week to position themselves for a chance at their first state playoff appearance in 7 years. The Tigers have the same 5-7 region record as Toombs County and are currently tied with the Bulldogs for the 4th spot, will need to take 2 of 3 games from their neighbors to the south to move on past this final regular season series.
Swainsboro is in this position because a terrific week against the Red Raiders. The Tigers hosted Bacon County on Tuesday and won a thriller as extra innings were needed to break the 2-2 tie. Swainsboro prevailed when Elijah Loyd hit a deep sacrifice fly to score Brandon Chapman with the winning run in the bottom of the 9th inning. Lenox Lively pitched 8 spectacular innings and Loyd pitched a perfect 9th for the win.
On Wednesday in Bacon County, Swainsboro was put away before all the fans were seated as the Red Raiders hung 6 runs on starting pitcher Kason Palmer in the 1st inning. Bacon County would win going away 10-2 to even the series.
On Friday, Kaleb Edenfield took the mound for the first time since early in the season due to an injury. Edenfield got off to a shaky start, giving up hits to the first two hitters to trail 1-0 almost immediately. The Tigers put out the fire and responded with a run in the bottom half as Edenfield doubled in Tate Thompson to tie the game. Swainsboro took control of the game with 4 more runs in the bottom of the 2nd inning and the offense began to roll. Two more runs in the 3rd inning made the score 7-1 and 4 more runs in the 5th inning put the game out of reach and gave Swainsboro a huge 11-2 win. Edenfield pitched 4 innings and allowed 4 hits, relieved by Loyd for the final 3 scoreless innings. Harrison Jones had 3 hits and 2 runs batted in for the winning Tigers.
The Tigers now control their own destiny in terms of a post season berth. Win 2 out of 3 games and Swainsboro will nudge out Toombs County for the final spot. Tuesday and Friday games will be at Tiger Field with Thursday’s game in Lyons. Swainsboro last made the playoffs in 2014.
