TIFTON — Finally, a night where Greg Williams and the Tift County Blue Devils could relax a bit. Landon Parrish hit a two-run homer to walk off a 13-2 Blue Devils win over Cairo in five innings and they are able to go into their weekend games in Florida with smiles on their faces.

Tyler VanSumeren gave up one run and one hit in four innings on the bump. Cairo got a run in the top of the fifth off Parrish to temporarily stave off the run-rule, but Mac Brooks started the bottom of the frame with a walk and Parrish had a moon shot to right to end it.

Though the ball was blasted, Williams said Parrish actually didn’t get all of it. “That was topspin,” Williams said.

Tift scored in every inning, with seven crossing in the third.

Two crossed in the first. John Davis walked to begin for the Devils, stole second and scored easily on VanSumeren’s single to right field. Two batters later, Brooks hit a sacrifice fly to right and VanSumeren made it a 2-0 lead.

The Syrupmakers notched their first run in the second, Gage Schafer hit by a pitch to score Kale Bearden.

Any worries about Cairo catching up came to rest minutes later. True to his name, Walker Brannen earned a free pass. He scored courtesy a pair of wild pitches sandwiching a fly out by Sam Pritchard.

One frame later, Tift County was the only team sweet on the scoreboard, sending 13 to the plate. The first six reached base safely, beginning with a double to deep center by Drew Hembree, a triple by Brooks and a single by Parrish.

The bottom half the order stepped in to churn more runs, Mason Grist and Jake Spurlin joining Parrish on the bases. Brannen walked again to make it 6-1 and Pritchard followed with a sac fly to score Grist.

Back at the top of the order, Davis singled to right to drive in two and the bases loaded again with walks to VanSumeren and Hembree. Brooks hit the second sac fly of the inning and it was 10-1.

Parrish walked again and Williams sent up a pinch-hitter: Quae Bell. It was the first ever varsity at-bat for the senior. Bell hit one deep, but a hustling ‘Maker right fielder robbed him of a double. Williams was happy he was able to get Bell into the game.

Spurlin legged out a double in the fourth, coming around on Pritchard’s single. At 11-1, the Devils needed a scoreless top of the fifth for a quick exit. Cairo temporarily kept that from happening when Cannon Maige singled and scored on a wild pitch.

VanSumeren and Parrish struck out 10 between them. Parrish fanned the side in the fifth.

Every Blue Devils hitter who started was on base at least once. Davis, Parrish, Spurlin and Brannen all scored twice. Spurlin, VanSumeren and Parrish each had two hits.

Tift heads to Florida Thursday for three games against Sunshine State teams, including Holmes County, which Williams said is one of the state’s best.

After catching some rays, TCHS will be back home next week to close out the Region 1-6A schedule with Camden County. The Blue Devils have clinched the state tournament, but are still hopeful of home games.

To do that, they have to sweep Camden and get a little bit of help from both Colquitt County and Richmond Hill. Colquitt has to win two of the three from Richmond Hill. No more, no less, Williams confirmed.