VINEGAR HILL - Dakota Piver’s two-run homer in the first inning ignited an early South Columbus scoring surge Friday night as the Stallions opened the state 2A high school baseball playoffs Friday night with a 6-2 victory over the Croatan Cougars.

Ethan Ward pitched a complete game five-hitter for the Stallions while striking out six batters. Ward also had a big night at the plate with a pair of doubles as Coach Willie Gore’s Stallions put their season record at 17-7.

South Columbus, which tied for runnerup in the Waccamaw 1A-2A Conference this season, will travel to Deep Run Tuesday for a 7 p.m., second round game with East Central Conference champion South Lenoir (19-2). South Lenoir’s Blue Devils opened the playoffs Friday with and 8-3 victory over North Brunswick.

South Columbus, which held a 5-1 lead after three innings Friday, also got a two-hit performance by Jeremy Ward and a run-scoring single by Colby Wright.

The Stallion squad has taken wins in six of its last seven games.

A win over South Lenoir on Tuesday would put the Stallions in Friday’s third-round action against the St. Pauls-Clinton winner.