Manny Zaldivar's game-winning RBI in the seventh inning ended a run of bruising losses for , which beat Region 5-AAA rival North Atlanta 5-4 at home Wednesday night.
The slugger's bases loaded drive into left field, scoring leadoff hitter Deric Boone, was one of five hits for the Red Devils on a night when the lead traded three times.
Winning pitcher James Ridgway threw five shutout innings in a complete game in which the hosts picked up runs in their final two at-bats.
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The victory snapped a five-game skid for Druid Hills (8-9-1), while North Atlanta (6-10) dropped its second-straight despite leading for five innings.
"I'm proud of them; we'v really been struggling," said Druid Hills coach Matt Gershon, whose team suffered four-straight, double-digit losses. "I'm very way with the way we competed today. Ridgway was a bulldog on the mound."
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Tyler Christian's first-inning triple scored Harrison McClure, who led off with a base hit.
Druid Hills came back with three runs in the second inning, owing to a costly error. Foster Thomason bunted following a pair of walks, but the missed catch at first saw Thomason reach third as Darren Stokes and Zaldivar crossed home plate. Rett Adams followed with a sacrifice fly.
But the Warriors weren't behind for long. McClure drove in the first of three North Atlanta runs in the third inning, which started with a Jaylen Logan walk and a Wells King single. A solid Jack Echols base hit brought in another two as the visitors jumped into a 4-3 lead.
However, Ridgway gave up no more runs for the rest of the night as Druid Hills tied it in the sixth inning.
Zaldivar led off with a walk, stole second, moved to third on a sacrifice fly and scored when Brady Ksionzyk singled to right.
In the seventh inning, Warrior pitcher Campbell Toye was soon behind in the count after a single, error and beaned hitter loaded the bases for Zaldivar.
"Our approach improved as the game went on," said Gershon. "We were fortunate enough to pull it out at the end there."