South Warren's Cade Vernon pitches Tuesday, May 7, 2019, during Greenwood's 13-2 win at South Warren High School. (Bac Totrong/photo@bgdailynews.com)

Greenwood knew it left too much on the field in Game 1 against South Warren. The Gators knew their second outing with the Spartans had to go another direction.

“I think we felt like we knew we needed to get more going,” Gators catcher Lance Upright said.

Greenwood left nothing in doubt Tuesday in totaling 18 hits to crush South Warren 13-2 in Game 2 of the series at South Warren High School.

The Gators (15-9 overall, 6-5 District 14) went off for eight runs in the top of the fifth inning, taking advantage of an off-night pitching by the Spartans (22-7, 9-2). Greenwood faced three different pitchers in the fifth inning, turning a 2-0 lead into a potential mercy-rule ending. South Warren prevented that with two runs in the bottom of the fifth on Sam Gage’s two-run double, but the Gators’ big inning was enough.

Greenwood’s win knotted up the series that will conclude Wednesday at 6 p.m. at South Warren High School. The Gators lost the first game 5-1 when they produced seven hits and left eight runners stranded.

“We felt like not necessarily that we gave away the game because South Warren definitely earned the win, but we left too many opportunities out there,” GHS coach Jason Jaggers said. “We needed this for ourselves to prove we can get over the hump in these big district games.”

Upright and Dell Henk each had three hits for the Gators and five players earned extra-base hits.

“It felt great,” Upright said. “Last night our approach to the plate was a little shaky and we couldn’t get timely hits down, but tonight it felt a lot better. We came out swinging and got 18 hits on the board. That’s what we have to do every game.”

The loss for South Warren means it’ll have to win the series finale to lock up the No. 1 seed in the District 14 Tournament and stay ahead of Bowling Green in the standings.

Cade Vernon earned the start and got one out in the fifth inning before exiting the game with soreness in his arm. Already down a pitcher with Tyler Martin recovering from an injury, Spartans coach Chris Gage said he didn’t want to risk keeping Vernon in the game and made an abrupt bullpen call.

Tanner Graves entered and gave up five earned runs in the fifth until Max Morris could enter and get South Warren out of a disastrous inning.

“Greenwood just outplayed us, plain and simple,” coach Gage said. “Our pitchers were off a little bit. Cade came up with a sore arm and we didn’t have good communication between coaches and players as far as getting somebody ready in time. Bottom line is Greenwood outplayed us.”

Greenwood paced itself with six hits and a 2-0 lead approaching that fifth-inning explosion. Three pitchers tried to tame the onslaught of eight hits that built up the 10-run lead. That inning was highlighted by back-to-back RBI doubles from Chandler Wilson and Upright to make it 5-0.

Cade Thorton’s double in the left-center gap scored two runs and Mac Ausbrooks skipped a single into left field to push the lead to 10-0.

And in a matter of half an inning, the Spartans were in the game one minute and facing the school’s first run-rule shutout loss the next.

Dane Isable reached on a single and a second baseman error allowed Trent Rice to reach base. That allowed Sam Gage to clean up with a double off the right-field wall to prevent the shutout, cutting the Gators’ lead to 10-2.

Greenwood added three runs in the final inning off Braxton Gardner’s double, a dropped third strike and an error.

Tyler Cook earned the win with a complete game, allowing eight hits while striking out four.

“We’ve battled adversity all year and (coaches) wanted us to come out strong and make a statement,” Upright said. “That’s what we did tonight and hope to continue that tomorrow.”

GHS 010 180 3 – 13 18 1

SWHS 000 020 0 – 2 8 1

WP: Cook. LP: Vernon.{&end}