A deal the past two years has been beneficial for Evans and its baseball opponents from South Georgia.
Effingham County and South Effingham participate in the Knights' Diamond Day games. Evans then travels to the Savannah area for a pair of games.
The Knights swept the two teams at home in February. They traveled to play a double-header Saturday.
Evans won the opener with Effingham County 7-4. They dropped the next game to South Effingham, 10-4.
Evans coach Ricky Beale said the nonregion games are a good chance to test new arms and for his players to have experience playing on the road.
"Having to play two games in one day against two quality opponents was a big plus for us," Beale said.
Tyler Barden, also the Knights' catcher, started on the mound the first game and pitched into the fifth inning. Cody Shepherd closed the victory.
Beale said the reliever did a good job of mixing his pitches.
Rick Thigpen started the second game and pitched 31/3 innings. He was relieved by Bradley Spires.
Despite the loss, Beale said the pitchers threw well. He said the games were an opportunity to find what arms the Knights could use later in the season.
"We had to find some more guys to throw," he said. "That way it helps us out knowing if we got to go to the bullpen with other guys."
Evans senior Matt Blume, whose last start was a March 3 loss to Lakeside, will have a week's rest when he starts today's game at Grovetown.
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