The Bainbridge High School Bearcats opened the Region 1-AAAAA portion of their baseball schedule Friday, with a 6-0 loss to the Hardaway High School Golden Hawks, in Columbus, Ga.

The game was close early. Starting senior right hander Rion Murrah allowed just one run through the first four innings.

Two singles and a fielder’s choice produced the Golden Hawks’ first run in the bottom of the second inning.

The Golden Hawks scored their final five runs in the bottom of the fifth.

The Bearcats’ biggest threat came in the top of the seventh when they put two runners on base, after a single by Cole Granato and a walk by Ryals Smith. A double play ended the rally.

“Hardaway has a good team, but we just did not play very well,” Bainbridge coach Brian McCorkle said. “We put some men on base, but we just could not get the key hit when we needed it.”

The Bearcats took a 2-2 overall record into a Tuesday road game against the Cairo High School Syrupmakers at Jackie Robinson Field.

They will host the Harris County High School Tigers in a Region 1-AAAAA game Friday at 6 p.m. at Bearcat Field.