Jefferson and Lumpkin both played host in the opening round of the 3A state playoffs, and both split in Wednesday action to force dramatic game threes on Thursday. Below are the recaps of the winner-take-all games.

CLASS 3A

LUMPKIN COUNTY

The Lady Indians (18-12) split Wednesday with a 9-1 opening win over visiting Westminster, but fell short 2-0 in the second game. The drama was thick on Thursday in game three, as Lumpkin used a walkoff to win the series.

The girls went up quickly 2-0, which doubled to 4-0 in the fourth for the Lady Indians. However, Westminster stormed back with 3 in the fifth to close within a run. In the sixth, the visitors appeared to provide the crushing blow with another pair to take a late 5-4 lead going into the final inning. Lumpkin walked it off with a pair of runs to take the series and advance to the Sweet 16 to take on #1-seeded Crisp County, beginning October 16-17.

JEFFERSON

The Lady Dragons (23-9) split with Sonoraville on Wednesday with a 7-6 win in the second game after suffering an opening loss. In Thursday’s game three, a 5-4 lead into the final inning was a little too close for comfort. Sonoraville put two runners on with no outs, but the Lady Dragons’ pitching and defense held firm and moved on to the Sweet 16, where they travel to Brantley County on October 16-17.