TIFTON — Tift County’s Diamond Devils won the first game of their three-game series against Colquitt County Tuesday, 2-1, but lost centerfielder/pitcher Will Pridgen to injury.

With two down in the top of the fourth and a runner on first, Jake Walker hit a ball high and deep to center. Pridgen raced back, turned and dove, making the catch as he slammed into the wall. There was momentary confusion on the play as Landon Parrish threw the ball back in, but umpires said Pridgen held on and Parrish took the ball out of Pridgen’s glove to toss it back to the infield.

Pridgen stayed down on the grass as coaches and trainers rushed to him. An ambulance soon arrived and drove onto the field. Pridgen was placed on a stretcher and taken to Tift Regional Medical Center. Pridgen was alert on the field. Injuries are believed to affect at least one of his wrists.

“Say a prayer for Will Pridgen,” said head coach Greg Williams as he prepared to leave to see Pridgen at the hospital.

The game was scoreless at the time of Pridgen’s injury. Back at-bat, Parrish stepped up immediately, smashing a solo home run off the signboards underneath the left field scoreboard.

One inning later, in the bottom of the fifth, the Blue Devils extended their lead to 2-0 on two-out magic. Walker Brannen, hitting lead-off in Pridgen’s absence, worked a walk. He got into scoring position after John Davis was hit by a pitch. Tyler VanSumeren then picked up an RBI, scoring Brannen on a hit up the middle.

Davis struck out nine on the day. He didn’t run into any trouble until the top of the seventh. Bryce Roberts and Walker had back-to-back singles, Walker making his way to third after because of a previous passed ball.

Colquitt popped out to left and opted not to test Mac Brooks’ arm. A wild pitch saw Roberts score and Walker’s pinch-runner, Tyson Samples, go to second. With the lead down to one run, Davis got his second out on a grounder to Jake Spurlin at short.

Here, Tift received a gift. During the at-bat, Colquitt’s hitter attempted to call time, but Davis was already into his stretch and it was not granted. Davis’ pitch went high, but the runner did not budge, apparently believe time had been granted. Davis ran in from the mound and corralled the baseball and the at-bat resumed. Five pitches later, Davis caught him looking on strike three to preserve the win.

Opportunities were few and far between for both teams Tuesday. Tift County had six hits to Colquitt’s three. Parrish had three of the hits — his homer and two singles.

Bowen DeRosso struck out five Blue Devils. Roberts pitched the sixth.

Tift returns to action Friday at Colquitt County in a doubleheader. The Blue Devils’ region record rose to 5-2. Colquitt is 4-3. Lowndes walked off a win against Camden County Tuesday and are now 6-1.