THOMSON --- The postseason fate of Thomson and Rutland rests entirely on today's game.

Each team took a game in Friday's doubleheader. Thomson's Bulldogs, the Region 3-AAA champions, won 7-1 in Game 1. The Hurricanes from Macon managed to pull out a 6-4 victory in Game 2 to send the series to a decisive third game, which will be played at 4 p.m. at Thomson.

"I thought we played pretty good in the first game," Thomson coach Terry Holder said. "We hit the ball pretty good and played good defense. And I thought we got a real good showing from Abe (Cartledge), our starting pitcher."

Cartledge, a sophomore southpaw, fell just short of his second no-hitter of the season. Rutland left fielder Reese Stokes managed an infield single in the top of the seventh to spoil that possibility. Cartledge walked the next batter before being relieved by Phillip Anderson, who got the next two batters to pop out and strike out to end the game.

Andy Grimaud, a freshman playing designated hitter for Thomson, went 2-for-2 in the first game, including slamming a two-run double into the left-field fence in the second inning as the Bulldogs went up 3-1. Thomson struck for four more runs in the bottom of the fifth on a pair of two-run homers by Dontavis Brown and Phillip Anderson.

Game 2 was a different story, as Rutland found a way to come back from an early 4-3 deficit to force the series to a third game.

"We didn't get down when we got behind and I think (that) was the key to us finding a way to come back and win the second game," Rutland coach Wallace Pritchard said.

The Hurricanes scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth on just two hits.

Pritchard, whose team never had won a state playoff game before Friday, said he called for leadoff hitter Austin Torrey to lay down a drag bunt to get things started. It worked perfectly, as Torrey beat the throw from Thomson pitcher Will Anderson to first base.

"That was a key play before we were able to take advantage of some Thomson mistakes," Pritchard said.