MABLETON — Strong starting and pitching and timely power has put the Thomasville Bulldogs in the Class AA state baseball championship series.

Witt Wetherington delivered a big homer in the 2-1 Game 1 win, and Gabe Duncan’s two-run shot in the nightcap helped propel the Bulldogs to a 7-5 Game 2 victory and series sweep over Pace Academy.

Thomasville will meet Vidalia, which beat Lovett 5-4 in Game 3 on Walker Moncus’ two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning to claim that series. The state championship series begins Monday at Georgia Southern University’s J.I. Clements Stadium in Statesboro.

Duncan also held the Knights to three hits over the first six innings, as he and Game 1 starter Jacob Jordan limited the Knights to five runs over 13 innings. 

Duncan held Pace to one run over the first six innings before the Knights rallied for four runs in the seventh. But he got the last out on a swinging strikeout.

Duncan’s blast followed Jace Lowe’s run-scoring groundout in the bottom of the first inning, putting the Dogs — the home team for Game 2 — up 3-1. 

Thomasville pushed across four runs in the fifth to open breathing room.

Anderson Everett’s two-run single up the middle made it 5-1, and an error on a steal attempt allowed Ryan Renfroe to score.

Lowe’s base hit to left plated Everett with the rally’s final run.

Jordan went six innings, striking out five and limiting the Knights to three singles. But he walked seven. Pace, though, was just 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position off Jordan.

Ben Rawlings pitched a perfect seventh for the save.

Wetherington snapped a 1-1 tie in the sixth with a solo shot to left field on a 2-0 pitch.

Jordan and Rawlings, who pitched the seventh, retired the final seven Pace batters to seal the win.

The Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead in the first inning as Lowe’s RBI single brought in Ryan Renfroe. 

Pace tied the game on Paul Ramseur’s RBI single in the third.

Ethan Rucker went the distance in the loss, giving up just five hits and walking just one. 

Everett went 2-for-3 in the opener.