By SAM STAAFF/Sports Writer

HURLEY — East Central and North Pike will decide who advances to the second round of the Class 5A South State playoffs Monday night.

That’s because the two teams split the first two games of the series, with each winning at home as the Jaguars won Friday night 4-2 and the Hornets returning the favor with an 11-1 thumping Saturday afternoon.

East Central will host the rubber match Monday night.

“We were two different teams offensively from game one to game two,” veteran ECHS head coach Bo Long said. “Both starters did a great job. Porter Martin threw well in game 1 and Hunter Prouty threw four shutout innings only allowing a hit.”

In game one in Summit, Grant Vick and Matthew Combs each drove in  run apiece for ECHS in the top of the first but that would be all North Pike pitcher Ty Jones would allow as he settled down and tossed a complete game to pick up the win.

The Jags got a pair of runs in the third and two more in the fifth to pull out the win.

On Saturday, the home-standing Hornets bounced back in fine fashion.

Anthony Tanner, facing perhaps his final appearance in an East Central uniform, collected three hits, including a double, and drove in two runs to pace the home team to the five frame win. Porter Martin also had three hits, including a double, while Vick, Combs and Pacey Baria also had two RBIs each. Jaxon Cripps had two hits, including a double, and Combs also had two hits.

Hunter Prouty worked just over four frames on the hill to earn the win.