Trey Barfield limited to six hits Wednesday while giving up no earned runs.

TIFTON – An infield ground ball sparked a brief rally for Veterans High Wednesday against the Tift County Blue Devils and ended up being enough for a 2-1 victory.

The loss came despite a gem from Tift’s starting pitcher, Trey Barfield.

“He did a great job responding,” said Blue Devils head coach, Kyle Kirk. “He kept us in the ballgame.”

Tift scored first Wednesday, a single run in the second inning. Consecutive errors allowed Keenan Webb and Jake Pettis to reach, though Webb was out by an eyelash at home trying to gain an extra base. Pettis moved up to second.

Anthony Brey walked and Jack Lambert kept the inning alive after he beat a throw to first when Brey was thrown out at second.

Lambert’s hustle paid off because as the throw went to first, Pettis kept running, scoring on the play.

Tift had baserunners in every inning except the seventh, but were not able to score any more runs.

It was “one little miscue,” said Kirk that gave the Warhawks their opening in the sixth inning.

Jayden Chance started the sixth for Veterans with a walk. Barfield quickly recorded two outs, but what Kirk said was a great play turned into a throwing error on a ball hit on the infield.

Chance, who got into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt, never stopped on this hit by Tyler Mayfield, tying the game. One batter later, Leyton Pinckney doubled into the right field gap, giving the Warhawks a 2-1 advantage.

Cole Hooks started the game for Veterans, but it was Jackson Williams who was on the hill at the time they took the lead. Derek Wylle came in for the save.

Webb, Pettis and Lambert all collected two hits for the game, but the Devils had little luck advancing the runners further.

Tift’s aggression on the basepaths did not always work out Wednesday. Kirk said he could have managed that better.

The Devils were robbed on another opportunity to take the lead back. In the bottom of the sixth, Webb and Pettis were at second and first, respectively and Brey was at the plate with two outs.

Brey blasted a pitch, but Wylle, then playing center, made a tremendous running catch to end the inning.

“We’ll get better,” said Kirk.

The Blue Devils are off until Saturday afternoon, which starts a busy stretch.

They host Columbus at 4 p.m. Saturday. Monday, Berrien comes in for a 6 p.m. contest. Tuesday, they go to Thomas County Central before hosting Coffee Wednesday. Two days later, they open region play with a doubleheader at Camden County.