FITZGERALD — The Purple Hurricane of Fitzgerald is preparing for their second-round state tournament series, which begins Thursday at Bleckley County with a 5 p.m. doubleheader.

Fitzgerald survived the first round against Lamar County, which saw them shut out in the first game before taking the last two to advance.

Head coach Brandon Reeder said his team has been taking it one game at a time all year. “One game doesn’t define us,” he said.

Held to five hits in the opening 2-0 loss, the Hurricane could have let it slip away in the second. Their scoreless inning streak was up to 11, though thankfully Drake Young was keeping Lamar quiet as well.

Then, they broke through in the fifth, but not without giving Reeder a few more gray hairs.

Brodie Singletary started with a single, but after two outs, Fitzgerald still had only the runner on first. At this time, it was Cohen Griffin, who had reached on a fielder’s choice.

Wilson Davis doubled on a 1-2 count and Fitzgerald had its first run. One batter later, Ashton Bryan singled and it was a 2-0 game.

It was a slim lead, but it was enough.

“Drake Young threw fantastic,” Reeder said. Young struck out 12 on the day, and held the Trojans to three hits. With Young nearing the pitch count, Gabe Grubbs came in for the save in the seventh. Grubbs struck out one and allowed no baserunners.

With the series tied at 1 apiece, the Hurricane might have expected another’s pitchers’ duel after the first two games. This wasn’t as close — a 12-2 finish that ended in the sixth inning.

Reeder said his team rarely starts fast. This was the case in the finale.

The Purple Hurricane were up 1-0 after the first, but were down 2-1 when they came to bat in the fourth. Singletary tied it there by driving in Liam Luke.

They then exploded in the fifth with seven runs, putting the game out of reach.

Fitzgerald had the bases loaded with no outs, taking the lead when Grubbs was hit by a pitch.

Lamar rallied for a double play, but Fitzgerald was just getting started. They loaded the bases again, and again got an RBI as Conner Price was plunked.

Singletary then cleared the bases with a double to make it 7-2. They tacked on two more with an Evan Turner single and a passed ball.

Three runs scored for the Purple Hurricane in the seventh. Kyler Krause raced home on a passed ball to make it 12-2 and the mercy rule.

Matthew Cowan and Grubbs combined for the win.

Up next is Bleckley in Cochran. The Royals have a 22-9 mark to Fitzgerald’s 18-15. The team’s won’t be new to one another. Bleckley won an 11-1 game to end the regular season.

The Royals do have one player that catches Reeder’s eye more than any other: a switch-pitcher. Braegan Cravey can throw with either hand and Reeder he did so against them in the first outing.

If Fitzgerald can get the upset and make the elite eight, the Purple Hurricane would either host Bremen or travel to Pepperell.