Corner pitcher Matt Burnett helped his own cause by hitting a triple in the top of the first inning, but couldn’t shut down Bibb County’s potent batting order in the first game, which the Yellow Jackets lost 12-2 in six innings. They won the second game 3-2, which set up a third game in the playoff series Saturday in Centreville.

Bibb County showed how they achieved their number-five ranking in the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s Class 4A baseball polls in the first game of Friday’s playoff doubleheader against Corner.

But in the second game, they showed how they had also dropped from the second spot in that poll over the last two weeks, as the Choctaws and Yellow Jackets split the twin-bill.

Bibb’s 12-2 six-inning win in the first game, followed by Corner’s 3-2 triumph in the second, sets up the rubber game of the best-of-three series for noon Saturday.

Corner started off on the right foot in the opener, with Jake Eiland’s single bring home starting pitcher Matt Burnett, who had tripled down the right field line.

But that’s the only time the Yellow Jackets led, as the Choctaws put up three runs on an RBI double by ace pitcher Darrin Whatley, followed by a two-run homer by Landon Coffin to right field, both with two outs.

Bibb County’s big inning came in the fourth with six runs, highlighted by a two-run blast by shortstop Jalen Goree, who had also hit a double the inning prior.

When Whatley beat out the throw on an infield single on the next at-bat, Corner coach Steve Kelley pulled Burnett off the mound in favor of reliever Kyle Moody. But that move didn’t work out, as Bibb first baseman Matthew Murphy drove in two runs on a base hit. A walk and a hit batsman followed, and Moody was done without retiring a batter.

Josh Walker came in to finish, but not before allowing two more run-scoring hits.

Catcher Dakota Williams ended the game with two out in the bottom of the sixth with another two-run homer.

Meanwhile, Whatley was in control on the mound. His blazing fastball was hittable, as Corner connected several times, but usually drove the ball straight toward a Choctaw fielder.

The Jackets got only three hits off the fireballer, and were struck out eight times with no walks.

“It should’ve been close, but it wasn’t,” Kelley said. “We hit him [Whatley] up a little bit, but we just hit it right at ‘em.”

In the nightcap, it looked like it would be more of the same for the Choctaws. Once again, Goree and Wilkins bashed the ball over the fence, but this time there were no runners on base, and no more scoring forthcoming from the home team.

Corner benefitted from sloppy play by the Bibb defense, scoring first when Jordan Shipp singled in the second inning. Shipp then moved to second on a passed ball, stole third and then scored when the Choctaw catcher overthrew third base on the steal attempt.

Then in the seventh, pitcher Jake Eiland scored the winning run on an error on the shortstop, which also allowed Burnett to score. Burnett drew a walk, then went to second on a passed ball and on to third on Eiland’s single.

Eiland went the distance for the Jackets, facing 28 batters over seven innings and giving up five hits while striking out four.

Goree was the losing pitcher, despite facing only 23 batters over seven innings and striking out 10 batters. Only one of his three runs was earned.