MOULTRIE — The Colquitt County baseball team is not yet halfway through its Region 1-AAAAA schedule and is still a game below the .500 mark in the league standings.

But on May 3, if they find themselves owning a state playoff berth, the Packers may look back a month to a throw from center field from John Michael Harrison as the play that ultimately enabled them to play on.

The Packers had just taken a 3-2 lead over visiting Lowndes High on Tuesday at Ike Aultman Field at Packer Park in a game between region opponents sporting disappointing 1-3 league records.

With one out in the top of sixth, the Vikings had pinch runner Cole Fuller on third base when Adam Rigoni flied to medium center field.

Harrison made the catch, then uncorked a perfect throw to catcher Bo Williams, who tagged Fuller out to end the inning and preserve the lead.

The Packers scored two more runs in the bottom of the sixth, then called on Harrison to get the final three outs in the top of the seventh to seal the 5-2 victory.

“That’s the biggest play we’ve had this season,” Packers Coach Eric McCranie said. “You get a big play like that to end an inning and you’re almost guaranteed to score yourself.”

The victory raises the Packers record to 6-7 overall and 2-3 in the region. The defending region champion Vikings fall to 4-11 overall and drop into a tie for last place in the region with Houston County with a 1-4 record.

“We were more focused than we have been last four of five games,” said McCranie after his team ended a four-game losing streak.

It didn’t start well for the Packers when senior left-hander Andrew McDowell walked the first two Vikings to open the game, drawing a visit from pitching coach Josh Purvis.

“I just told him, you’re a veteran pitcher, it’s time to throw like one,” Purvis said.

McDowell went on to retire the next three batters, two on strikeouts. He picked up his second win of the season by giving up just two runs and four hits over six innings. He struck out seven.

After walking Brandon Gilbert to open the top of seventh, McDowell gave way to Harrison, who walked Parker Pridgen to bring the potential tying run to the plate.

But Harrison got Tyler Suddarth to fly to center and then struck out Christian Glisson and Kyle Williams to end the game.

Colquitt scored first in the bottom of the third off Lowndes starter Matt McCall.

Hayden Kudela open the inning with a double and Blake Cato reached when his sacrifice bunt attempt went for an infield hit.

Corey Hancock laced a single to center to score Kudela, and Jebb Cato followed with a single to left to score Blake Cato to give the Packers a 2-0 lead.

Lowndes tied it quickly in the top of the fourth when Brent Strickland singled and scored on a double by Sam Hoff.

Hoff went to third on the throw to the plate and scored to tie the game on a sacrifice fly by Ricky Bozeman.

But Packers right fielder William Oliver untied it when he led off the bottom of the fourth with his first varsity home run.

Double plays ended the Vikings fifth and sixth innings.

Colquitt got two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth after McCall struck out the first two batters. Ben Cauthen reached on an infield hit and Bo Williams walked. Tyler Stalvey relieved McCall and gave up a double to Kudela to score Cauthen, then balked Williams home.

The Packers had 10 hits, including two each by Blake Cato, Hancock, Oliver and Kudela. Cauthen and Jebb Cato had the others.

Lowndes had just four hits, including a single and a double by Hoff. Strickland and Bozeman added singles.

McCall was charged with all five Colquitt County runs. He gave up nine hits, walked three and struck out four.

The Packers will play host to Tift County on Friday. Lowndes will travel to Houston County, which won its first region game of the season on Tuesday, defeating Tift County 6-4 in Tifton.

Also on Tuesday, Warner Robins defeated Coffee 7-6, dealing the Trojans their first Region 1-AAAAA loss.