BRANDON – The Brandon Bulldogs overpowered Brookhaven’s Panthers 13-3 Tuesday in the final regular-season baseball game. The Panthers begin play in the Class 5A state playoffs Friday night at West Jones. Game time is 7 p.m.

The best-of-three series moves to Brookhaven for Game 2 Saturday, starting at 1 p.m. If a third game is required, it will follow 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game 2.

The Panthers (12015) got a first-inning, 2-run homer from Andrew Culver. A single by Reed Jones set the stage for Culver’s clout.

“We mixed our pitching a little bit and we struggled throwing strikes,” said BHS coach Randy Spring. “We competed and we were in the game until late. We had a couple of guys out and that hurt us.”

Spring said he hoped his team’s tough schedule would benefit them in the state playoffs.

The Panthers finished with 5 hits. Myles Tipton had 2 hits, including a fourth-inning RBI double that cut Brandon’s led to 7-3.

Landon McCullough started on the mound for BHS and went 2 innings. Culver, Jones and Peyton Clark also pitched.

Brandon took a 3-2 lead in the second as the Bulldogs scored twice on a 2-out error and an RBI single by Colby Williams. Colby Whitfield and Williams both had 2 hits in the victory.