VALDOSTA — The first two times through the middle of the Lowndes High batting order, there was some damage done.

Oh, but the third time. That’s what Viking coach Danny Redshaw’s looking for entering region play.

The Vikings (5-7) got four-straight two-out hits in the fifth inning, breaking a 2-2 tie and moving on to a 7-2 victory over Walker Valley (Tenn.) High Saturday at Noel George Field.

It was the second loss in three varsity games during Walker Valley’s trip through South Georgia. The Mustangs, a Class AA school in the three-class Tennessee public school system, had left home with a 15-0 record.

Colquitt County beat Walker Valley, 3-1, Thursday night. Walker Valley routed Thomas County Central, 14-3, Friday.

Last year, the Mustangs missed their state’s Final Four by one one-run game.

It was 2-2 going into the bottom of the fifth. Ben Williams led off with a single, but was called out trying to steal second. Ben Love’s fly out made for two outs.

Then …

Kalen Grant (2-for-4) singled to right-center, and went to second on a wild pitch. Joseph Jones (2-for-3) doubled Grant home, then he scored on Brandon Smith’s single to left. Smith (2-for-3) went to third when the baseball rolled past the leftfielder, then scored on Shawn Riddle’s double (2-for-3).

“We started to swing the bats,” said Redshaw, “We’ve got to have that. We’ve got to swing the bats better. I feel good about our defense, and our pitching is coming along.

“If we can get those clutch hits, we’ll be OK.”

In the sixth, Jacob Jarvis (2-for-2) and Derek Newbern walked to open the inning. Pinch-runner Ray Meyers advanced to third on two wild pitches, then stole home. Newbern scored on Grant’s single.

Lowndes had taken a 1-0 lead in the second on Riddle’s double, later scoring on Jarvis’ single. After giving up single runs in the third (on Dustin Fromm’s home run, part of a 2-for-4 day) and fourth, the Vikings tied the game in the fourth. Jones singled, went to third on an outfield fielding error and scored on Smith’s bouncing single to deep short.

The Vikings used five pitchers, with starter Caleb Hutchinson (one hit, two strikeouts) and Riddle (one hit, two strikeouts, one unearned run) each throwing two innings.

Redshaw used his senior players in the game, playing his juniors in a sub-varsity game earlier Saturday. Lowndes High won that game, 12-1.

Region 1-AAAAA teams open league play Tuesday night. Included in the schedule is the first Valdosta vs. Lowndes game, set for 6 p.m. at Noel George Field.

“We’d better be ready for region,” Redshaw said laughingly. “It’s here.”