Tift County second baseman Jack Lambert uses his glove to flip a throw to first base. Lambert has been one of the most productive Blue Devils at the plate recently.

TIFTON — Tift County sees its first Region 1 home action this afternoon, with Devil Diamond the site of a doubleheader with Lowndes at 4:30 p.m.

The Blue Devils will be trying to reverse a recent losing skid, including two games at Camden County last week that started the region slate.

Despite excellent pitching, Tift has combined for seven runs over its previous four games. Earlier this week, they dropped a 6-2 contest at Berrien and fell 2-0 at Coffee.

“We’re getting guys on,” said head coach Kyle Kirk. “We have to get them in.”

Jack Lambert has been on base eight times in that four-game stretch, Keshaun Mays six. Mays, Lambert and Mason Avant all have at least four hits during the same time period.

Kirk isn’t worried about scoring runs.

“It’ll come,” he said.

Lowndes brings in a 10-5 record. They split their first region series last Friday against Colquitt County (both teams won a game by 4-0) and defeated Thomas County Central Tuesday, 6-2. The Vikettes were a 20-win team a year ago and advanced to the first round of the state tournament.

Kirk said the 2018 Vikings are “built for a postseason run.” Lowndes can do a bit of everything, he said, on the mound, in the batter’s box and in the field. Besides Colquitt, their wins include Cook, Evans and two other teams Tift has beaten, Chattahoochee and Griffin.

He expects a big crowd for the games and described the atmosphere as “always intense.”

Kirk had yet to determine his starting pitchers for the doubleheader. He said he is opting for whoever has the hot hand. Fortunately, the Blue Devils have been exceptionally well stocked at the position.

Four hurlers — Avant, Mays, Trey Barfield and Anthony Brey have recorded wins — and Tift has allowed three earned runs or fewer in nine of their 13 games. Four contests have seen the squad give up no earned runs.

“We’ve been solid on the mound,” Kirk said.

Four of the next five Fridays after today will be similarly filled with baseball. With the exception of March 30, Tift will be in a doubleheader either at home or on the road. They head to Colquitt County next week. Colquitt, who like Lowndes is 1-1 in region play, hosts Camden County this afternoon.

Camden leads Region 1 with a 2-0 mark. The top three teams will qualify for the state tournament.

Besides region games, Tift will be at Veterans Monday for a 5:30 p.m. contest.