The Corner baseball team split a doubleheader with Pleasant Grove on Saturday in the opening round of the Class 5A state playoffs, setting the table for a decisive Game 3 on Monday at 4:30 p.m. The winner of Monday’s contest advances to the third round.

Corner (27-20) started the best-of-three series with a 6-1 victory before falling in the second game by a 3-0 final.

Game 1 started on Friday night but eventually got called in the third frame, due to weather. That contest resumed on Saturday, but Yellow Jacket head coach Josh Hoyle chose to make a pitching change following the weather delay.

Ole Miss pledge Jackson Tavel got the start on Friday and held the Spartans (19-23) scoreless before inclement weather put the series on hold. Hoyle gave the ball to Samuel Knowlton to start Saturday’s opener, leaving Tavel available to throw the rubber match on Monday.

“In the first game we didn’t run Jackson (Tavel) back out there, which was I think a surprise to everybody, but we just felt like pitching-wise to have him available for all seven in the third game was going to be huge,” said Hoyle.

Knowlton tossed the final 4 1/3 innings of the opener. He kept the visitors quiet (1-for-6) with runners in scoring position. The righty surrendered one run off two hits, four strike outs and as many walks in the win. He kept seven Spartans stranded on base, including three runners in the sixth when he struck out Andrew Hudson with a high fastball, leaving the bases jammed.

Corner took control of the game with five fourth inning runs to set the final tally at 6-1. The hosts sent 10 batters to the plate that frame with four of them (Taylor McCormack, Austin Boyd, Devne Daniel and Kevin Bryant) driving in runs.

Game 2 belonged to Pleasant Grove pitcher Kody Long. The sophomore held Corner to a 3-for-24 outing at the dish. Chris Huff, McCormack and Boyd each singled for the Yellow Jackets, who fell scoreless to welcome a rubber match.

Long struck out seven batters and walked three in the win. His offense gave him one run in the fourth and two more in the sixth.

Corner fought in the final inning as it loaded the bases, putting the go-ahead run in the batters box. However, that’s as close as the Jackets would get as Long closed the door with his seventh strikeout.

“Their guy did a great job of keeping us off balance, he’s a really good arm and they just made more plays than we did,” said Hoyle. “I was proud of my guys for getting the go-ahead run to the plate and that’s all you can ask for.”

Erik Harris is the Sports Editor of The North Jefferson News. Email him at njnsports@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @jeharris2.