Visiting South Effingham placed the ball in play regularly and the entire way in Friday’s 9-1 win over Liberty County High School during light rain.
The Mustangs, who already had a 3-0 lead by the bottom of the third inning, started to run up the score in the fourth.
South Effingham smacked one straight to Panther second baseman Quinndon Montgomery, who leapt to make the catch and the first out. But with two out, South Effingham started to connecting ball to bat and running the bases well. With a runner at third, the Mustangs scored on a wild pitch by Panther pitcher Curtis Michalowicz.
Mustang Garrett Hodges drove in a run, and Corey Horner homered to give the Mustangs a 6-0 lead.
In the fifth inning, the Mustangs drove in two more runs to go up 8-0.
Michalowicz pitched until the top of the sixth and was relieved by Montgomery. In the seventh, Montgomery was relieved by Vincent Brunelli.
With bases loaded, Brunelli walked in a run. The Panthers then notched a double play when Jacari Roberts nabbed a shot headed to third and caught a runner off first base.
Roberts also scored a run in the bottom of the inning to avoid the shutout.
Liberty, 3-9 overall and 0-4 in Region 3A-AAAA, travels to Wayne County on Tuesday. Game time is 6 p.m.