Gaffney came out swinging against Region II-4A rival Spartanburg on Tuesday. The Indians got back-to-back hits on the game’s first two pitches and scored three first-inning runs en route to a 6-2 victory at Duncan Park Stadium.

“I think us putting the pressure on them early was the key,” Gaffney head coach Tom Owens said. “I told our guys that they just needed to come out relaxed and to be aggressive.”

McRae Norton doubled to start the game, and Michael Hughey lined an RBI single on the next pitch. Gaffney (7-6, 2-5) added two more first-inning runs on a pair of RBI groundouts.

“We knew we had to play well if we're going to get back in the region (race),” said starting pitcher Bobby Jackson, who had a first-inning single at the plate. “Coach wanted us to come out and swing the bats.”

Jackson took advantage of the early run support on the mound, especially after the Indians built a 5-1 lead in the top of the third.

He was constantly ahead in the count and finished with eight strikeouts while allowing only one earned run on six hits.

“I felt pretty good,” said Jackson, who went the distance. “I kept my velocity up the whole game and just hit my spots.”

“He’s a pretty good little scrapper,” Owens said of the 5-foot-8, 155-pound junior pitcher. “He’s not very big, but he throws well.”

After scoring an unearned run in the bottom of the first inning, the Vikings (8-10, 0-6) mounted a serious threat in the second. They loaded the bases with two outs but Jackson struck out Spartanburg left fielder Clark Wise to end the inning.

“We preach to our kids pitching, defense and situational hitting,” Spartanburg head coach Tom Myers said. “And, right there, we just didn’t get the knock we needed with two outs. That probably changed the perspective of the game.”

Gaffney went ahead 5-1 on an RBI double by Tyler Wilson and an RBI single by Cameron Culp in the third.

“We got behind the eight ball right away,” Myers said. “And when you get behind at any level, it makes it tough on you. All and all, it was a pretty good ballgame. We just got behind early.”

Ryan Traylor relieved Spartanburg starter Brandon Landrie and allowed only one run on three hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Dee Jones drove in two runs for the Vikings, including an RBI triple with two outs in the fifth.

The Indians scored their final run in the top of the seventh when Dylan Jolley stole third and took home on an errant throw after he led off the inning with a double.