Correction: The final score of Game 1 between the Colquitt County and Lowndes baseball teams Thursday was incorrectly reported in the April 5 Moultrie Observer. Colquitt County won the game 5-2.)

VALDOSTA – If Lowndes High is the ‘head and shoulders’ best baseball team in Region 1-7A, Colquitt County High got on those shoulders for a little while Thursday.

Behind Trace Eakins’ complete-game pitching, the Packers won Game 1 over the region leaders 5-2. That shrunk the Vikings’ advantage in the standings to one game.

Seeking a first-place tie and head-to-head split, Colquitt County exploded for seven runs in the second inning of Game 2 … and that was it … and it wasn’t enough.

Lowndes scored nine unanswered runs to win 10-7 and return to a two-game lead with a 6-2 1-7A record. The Packers, 4-4 in the region, are now 6-14 overall.

In Game 1, Colquitt County trailed 1-0 going into the fifth inning. Cameron Carter of Lowndes sat down the first six batters he saw and didn’t give up a hit until the third inning. With the bases loaded, a full count and two outs in the top of the third, Carter forced the Packers to ground out to end the inning.

In the fifth inning Colquitt scored three runs. With two in the sixth, the Packers took a four-run advantage into the seventh.

Eakins scattered seven hits, walked one and struck out four.

Facing Dalton Smith in Game 2, the Packers scored seven second-inning runs including a grand slam by JT Whatley. Ahead 7-1, it seemed as if they’d draw even with Lowndes in the region standings.

The Vikings would then score in every inning from that point; the Packers would score none.

The Vikings scored two runs in the third inning to begin their rally. Then a three-run shot by Tyler Andrews helped the four-run effort in the fourth inning that tied the game.

One run in the fifth gave them an advantage, and two runs in the sixth to put the contest out of reach.

The Packers had eight hits overall while Lowndes made 14 off four pitchers. Freshman Pershaun Fann drove in two runs, and Lucas Tostenson tripled and scored.

Smith struck out nine lasting 5 2/3 innings. Andrew Clark struck out two in relief.

For Colquitt County, the upcoming week features a non-region home contest with Bainbridge Wednesday, then the Region 1-7A playoff positioning battle continues with a doubleheader Friday. Camden County comes to Ike Aultman Field at Jerry Croft Stadium.

The Wildcats swept Tift County this weekend in Kingsland 1-0 and 3-0. Those wins tie Camden with Colquitt for second place at 4-4.