Behind Cohen Wilbanks strong, four innings of work, the Cartersville Purple Hurricanes advanced to the Final Four of the GHSA Baseball Playoffs following an 11-1 win in Game 2.
The Cartersville offense scored three runs in the first two innings but exploded for eight runs in the final two innings of play. Anthony Seigler walked three times and scored three runs at the top of the Hurricane lineup, but Jake Gooch and Devin Warner provided the power with seven runs driven in.
Wilbanks tossed four innings and allowed one run with five strikeouts. Levi Ayers tossed the final frame with two strikeouts and seal the win by forcing a groundout.
Gooch had two hits including a double, while Warner dealt the final blow to Spalding with a three-run home run in the top of the fifth to force a run-rule. Cartersville is now 29-8 on the season.
The Canes will next face Heritage-Catoosa, which beat West Laurens 6-0 and 6-1 on Wednesday evening. The Generals are 30-6 on the season and led by Cole Wilcox, an MLB draft prospect and University of Georgia commit.