Dawsonville, GA — The action on the baseball field was just about as hot as the weather was on Wednesday, April 5th as the Pickens Dragons made the short drive to Dawsonville to take on the Dawson Tigers in game 2 of their 3-game region series. On Tuesday, April 4th, the Dragons took game 1 with a 5-3 win. The Tigers, came in looking to even up the series on their home field. A 4-run 2nd inning and a fantastic outing by James Tilley, gave the Dragons a 7-3 victory, and a series win.

In the top of the first, Tigers starter Joshua Priest, sat the Dragons down in order with a strikeout, a fly out, and a ground out. In the bottom of the frame, Dragons starter James Tilley, worked around some early trouble as the Tigers left 2 runners on to send it to the top of the second with the game tied at 0.

In the top of the second, Harlan Will led off with a solo home run to give the Dragons a 1-0 lead. The Dragons, would collect 4 more hits, and 3 more runs as they took a 4-0 lead over the Tigers. In the bottom of the second, Tilley had a 6 pitch inning to send it to the top of the third with the Dragons leading, 4-0.

In the top of the third, the Dragons added to their lead as A.J. Rice knocked in a run on a double. Rice then scored on an error after Evan Giddens hit a single. Going to the bottom of the third, the Dragons were now leading the Tigers, 6-0. In the bottom of the third, the Tigers cut into the lead as they were able to get a 1-out, 2-run double to make it 6-2 Dragons going to the fourth.

In the top of the fourth, Priest, who was still on the mound, picked up his 2nd 1-2-3 inning as he picked up his 3rd and 4th K of the game. In the bottom of the fourth, Tilley, who had a long 3rd inning, needed just 5 pitches to get the Tigers out. Going to the fifth, the Dragons led the Tigers, 6-2.

In the top of the fifth, Priest, picked up his 5th K of the game as he threw his 2nd straight 1-2-3 inning to send it to the bottom of the fifth. In the bottom of the frame, after giving up a lead off walk, Tilley, picked up a fielder’s choice out, a line out, and a fly out to send it to the sixth with the Dragons ahead, 6-2.

Rice, led off the top of the sixth with his 2nd double of the night. Rice, advanced to 3rd after a sacrifice bunt from Giddens. Colby Brooks, brought in Rice with an RBI ground out to make it 7-2 Dragons going to the bottom of the sixth. In the bottom of the inning, the lead off man for the Tigers reached with a single. That runner would come into score after a 1-out single to make it 7-3 Dragons.

Tilley, got back to back strikeouts to end the inning and keep the lead at 7-3 going to the top of the seventh.

In the top of the seventh, Tyler Payne reached on a 1-out single. Dawson Holland, then followed with a double that advanced pitch runner Ezra Faber to 3rd. Priest, picked up a strikeout and a pop up to get out of the potential trouble and sending it to the bottom of the seventh. In the bottom of the seventh, Cason Cannon came on in relief of Tilley to try to shut the door on the Tigers.

Cannon, would give up a 1-out hit and a 2-out walk, but that would be all the Tigers would get as the Dragons took game 2, 7-3.

For the Dragons, it’s their 5th straight 7-AAA series win. They’ll look to complete their 4th straight region sweep on Thursday, April 6th as they will host the Dawson Tigers for the 3rd and final game of the series. First pitch set for 5:55 pm.