The opening contest in the Class 5A Lower State playoffs Thursday in The Swamp pitted region rivals River Bluff and Dutch Fork.

It played out like a typical, hard-fought Region 5-5A contest which came down to the final at-bat. In the end, the Gators edged the Silver Foxes 4-3 to advance in the winner’s bracket.

Clemson University pitching commit Ricky Williams was effective both on the mound and at the plate. He allowed just 2 runs and struck out 4 before leaving the game as Dutch Fork mounted a late rally.

Williams also had 3 hits and a key RBI for the Gators (21-5), who improved to 4-0 in the post-season and 3-1 this season over Dutch Fork.

“Great team win for us,” River Bluff head coach Mark Bonnette said. “Ricky gave us a great outing tonight against an excellent lineup. Both teams know each other very well, and we were just fortunate to make a few more plays than them to hold on and win.

River Bluff took a 1-0 lead in the 1st inning on a solo home run over the leftfield fence by Cameron Ferrell off Doug Webb. An inning later, William Chastian scored from 3rd base after the Silver Foxes botched a rundown with a throwing error into leftfield.

A sacrifice fly by Price Alexander put the Silver Foxes on the board in the Top 4th. Dutch Fork threatened again in the fifth with runners on 2nd and 3rd and 1 out,  but Williams struck out Crosby Jones and Lance Fuhr flied out to centerfield.

The Gators answered in the Bottom 5th with an RBI single by Williams and Ferrell scoring on a double steal.

Down 4-1, Dutch Fork had runners on 1st and 2nd with 2 out. Down to the last strike, Fuhr singled home Bryan Helms from 3rd base.

Williams was replaced by Brayden Fowler who walked Alexander and threw a wild pitch to score Noah Jackson from 3rd place. Fowler was replaced by Jack Benedict who got Jalen McDuffie to fly out to end the game.

River Bluff will play host to Summerville at 1 p.m. Saturday in the winner’s bracket. Dutch Fork will travel to St. James for the 5 p.m. elimination game. The Green Wave defeated the Sharks 12-7 for their 4th straight road win. 

Bishop England 6, Gilbert 4

The Indians fell into the loser’s bracket of the Class 3A Lower State playoffs and will play host to Aynor at 1 p.m. Saturday in the elimination game.

Midland Valley 6, Airport 2

The Eagles dropped their 3rd consecutive game to their Region 5-4A rival.

Cam Beckham, John Allen Forrester and Sam LaFrage all had 2 hits and Colby Key had the lone RBI for Airport. It now will head to South Aiken Saturday for a noon elimination game.

FRIDAY’S SOFTBALL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

Lexington at Ashley Ridge 6 p.m.

Batesburg-Leesville at Central 6 p.m.

Gilbert at Battery Creek 6:30 p.m.