VALDOSTA, Ga. — The Lowndes Vikings (16-7, 4-4 Region 1-7A) split with the Colquitt County Packers (11-12, 5-3) in doubleheader action on Friday.

The Vikings failed to capitalize with runners in scoring position while the Packers took advantage of an off-night for Lowndes starter Wyatt Fender en route to a 4-2 win in the nightcap.

Lowndes picked up an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Tyson Shaw’s RBI double brought in C.J. Rose and pinch runner Johnny Retterbush. After a single by outfielder Tanner Wilson, Packers’ infielder Austin Singletary got an RBI single to make it a 2-1 contest. The Packers only just getting started as a wild pitch by Fender allowed Singletary to advanced to second base. John Samuel Shenker connected on an RBI double to bring in Singletary and tie the game at 2. Infielder Buck Blalock smacked an RBI double of his own to get Shenker home to pull the Packers ahead 3-2.

With Fender falling out of rhythm, Lowndes coach Rusty Beale pulled Fender after 2 2/3 innings and replaced him with reliever Rhett McLeod. McLeod walked Gavin Patel which moved Blalock to third but struck out Hayden Bledsoe to get out of the third.

Fender started the game fast and appeared to have a good rhythm early. McLeod stopped the bleeding but was removed to start the fourth, bringing on Will Tolbert to finish the game. Beale talked about the struggles his pitchers had after the game.

“Fender didn’t have his stuff tonight,” Beale said. “Rhett McLeod came in and got us out of that inning and then Will Tolbert came in and pitched a heck of a rest of the game. That happens in baseball –– (Fender’s) been our bulldog all year and he just didn’t have his stuff tonight but come next Friday, he’ll be right back out there. All the credit goes to Colquitt though, they did what they had to do the second game to get that W.”

In the top of the fourth, the Packers tacked on their final run as an RBI by Bledsoe scored Blalock and put the Packers ahead for good, 4-2.

The bottom of the third inning was a microcosm of what Beale believes doomed the team in Game 2. With Shaw, Cameron Carter and Brett Beals on base, Fender came to the plate looking to bring in a run for the Vikings. Fender struck out, leaving all three batters stranded to end the inning.

After splitting with the Packers on Friday, Beale talked about his team’s inability to produce runs with bases loaded and praised the Packers for capitalizing on their mistakes.

“Any time you play a team of Colquitt’s caliber, you can’t give them extra outs,” Beale said. “We left too many base-runners on. We had the bases loaded several times and just couldn’t get runs in when we needed them. Tip your hat to Colquitt, they’re a great team, they’re coached really well. We’ve just got to get ready for the next one.”

The Vikings took Game 1 by a count of 3-1 due in part to a solid outing from starter Dalton Smith. Smith went the distance and struck out five while giving up seven hits and walking two in the game.

Consecutive RBIs by the Vikings’ Hart and Shaw put the Vikings ahead 3-0 in the bottom of the third inning. The Packers did not score until the top of the sixth inning as an RBI by Hayden Bledsoe brought in Alex Bledsoe. The Vikings went on to seal the game in the seventh.

“Dalton threw really well and that’s what we’ve gotten accustomed to,” Beale said. “That’s what we needed. He had his location working, he was throwing all three pitches for strikes and kept them off balance. He did a great job for us and we’re looking forward to the next time.”

Things got a bit chippy in the top of the fourth as Bledsoe slid cleats first into second base. The slide prompted Beale to trot out to the field to discuss the play with the umpire. Despite his discussion with the umpire, Beale downplayed the slide after the game.

“That’s just baseball,” Beale insisted. “That’s two teams that are getting after it. People can say it’s dirty or not but if you’ve been around this game long enough, that’s just part of the game. That’s why we’ve got to teach our kids to get up and make the play and that’s how we do our business around here. That’s just baseball and our kids have to keep learning from that.”

The Vikings now must turn their attention to their cross-town rival, the Valdosta Wildcats; who defeated the Vikings 2-1 at their place on March 21. Beale acknowledges the matchup is a big game and does not expect the non-region tilt to be a walk-over on Tuesday.

“Any time you play Valdosta in any sport, it’s going to be a big game,” Beale said. “We’ve just got to continue to get better and improve from our mistakes we made tonight. It’s not going to be easy –– they’re a great team, they’re well-coached and we’re going to have to play a good ball game to compete with them.”

Game time for Tuesday’s game against the Wildcats is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Bazemore Field.