For about 90 minutes Friday night, everything seemed to be going to plan for the Augusta GreenJackets in Game 2 of the South Atlantic League's Southern Division playoff series.

GreenJackets starter Ben Snyder, the league's top left-handed pitcher during the regular season, was cruising through the Columbus Catfish lineup into the fifth inning, holding an early lead. And with all-star right-hander Adam Cowart waiting in the wings to start a potential Game 3 against a winless Catfish starter, the GreenJackets had to like their chances.

Then came that "Here we go again moment" that Augusta manager Roberto Kelly said his team had to avoid against the nemesis Catfish. And it came in an unlikely fashion.

Columbus broke out in a huge fifth inning, scoring seven runs - six against Snyder and all with two outs - en route to an easy 7-1 victory over Augusta at Lake Olmstead Stadium.

Columbus beat the SAL's top two starters in consecutive games to sweep the defending division champions in the best-of-three series. The Catfish advance to face the Northern Division champion in the league title series, starting next week.

Columbus, which defeated pitcher of the year Kevin Pucetas in Game 1, outscored the GreenJackets 18-3 in the series. The Catfish (82-53 regular season) also won 10 of 14 meetings overall this season against Augusta (89-51), which posted the best regular-season record in the minors for the second consecutive season.

Columbus leadoff man Maiko Loyola went 3-for-5, including the go-ahead two-run home run off Snyder in the big fifth. Quinn Stewart led off the seven-spot inning with a double and finished the scoring with a two-RBI triple.

Snyder, who went 16-5 with a 2.09 ERA during the year, was charged with six runs allowed - three earned - in the loss. Snyder and Pucetas, ranked Nos. 1 and 2 in ERA, combined to allow 13 runs in two games.

Columbus starter Jeremy Hellickson kept Augusta's offense from doing much of anything for the second game in a row. He allowed only four hits and surrendered one run in six innings for the win.

The one run he did allow came to Augusta's first batter, Emmanuel Burriss, who singled and scored on Brett Pill's RBI grounder.

Hellickson worked around a leadoff triple to Joey Dyche in the third, retiring Augusta's Nos. 1 through 3 hitters in order.

Columbus came through with its big inning in the fifth, scoring seven runs, all with two outs, to go up 7-1.

Columbus last won the division title in 2002, as the RedStixx, before losing to Hickory in the league championship.

The Catfish will try to become the first Columbus team to win a league championship since the Double-A Astros affiliate in 1986. In 14 meetings, Columbus held Augusta to two runs or fewer 11 times. The Catfish also went 7-2 in Augusta.