VALDOSTA — The Lowndes Vikings fought through the heat with strong pitching performances and a dominant offense in game two to sweep the Mill Creek Hawks in the second round of the GHSA 2025 Class AAAAAA state baseball playoffs on Tuesday. The Vikings took Game 1 in a 3-2 nail-biter before shutting the door with a 4-0 victory in Game 2.

Game One

In Game 1, Lowndes made their position clear early with a two-run first inning. Matthew Kerrigan singled to start the frame and advanced on a walk to Cason Fletcher. Coleman Lewis reached first on an error that got the bases loaded. Derrick Carter drew a bases-loaded walk to score Kerrigan, and Hank Drew grounded out to bring home Fletcher for a 2-0 lead.

Mill Creek answered in the top of the second with an RBI double from Andrew Benson that scored Caleb Harley. An error in the third gave Brady Flesner the ability to tie the game at 2-2. But Lowndes reclaimed the lead for good in the bottom of the third.

Lewis was hit by a pitch, Noah Burnham singled, and Carter walked to load the bases. Drew then delivered a sacrifice fly to left to score Lewis for what would become the game-winning run. The two teams were locked in a struggle for several tense innings before Lowndes took game one.

Brinson Rountree delivered a complete-game effort for the Vikings, giving up four hits and two runs over seven innings. He struck out two, walked just one, and faced 27 batters on 88 pitches.

Game Two

The nightcap saw Lowndes continue its momentum, striking for two quick runs in the first inning. Kerrigan singled again and scored on Lewis’ sacrifice fly. Carter followed with a two-out RBI double to give the Vikings a 2-0 cushion.

Kerrigan doubled in the third and later singled in the fourth to drive in another run, finishing the game 3-for-4 with a double, two singles, two runs scored, an RBI, and a stolen base. A misplayed pickoff in the fourth allowed Heath Davis to score and extend the lead to 4-0.

Meanwhile, Garrett Moon was dominant on the mound, throwing a complete-game shutout. Allowing just two hits and four walks, Moon kept the Hawks in check all night. Moon faced 28 batters and threw 93 pitches, keeping Mill Creek scoreless despite some scary traffic on the bases in the first and fifth innings.

Across the series, Rountree and Moon combined to allow just two earned runs, six hits, and five walks over 14 innings. The Vikings were strategic in the first game and relentless in the second, applying consistent pressure on the Hawks’ defense.

With the sweep, the Vikings have advanced to the third round of the GHSA 2025 state baseball playoffs. Lowndes will host Brookwood on Wednesday, May 7, for a doubleheader.