GARNER — When Cary Post 67 and Garner met for a three-game series earlier this season, each tightly contested tilt was decided by one run.

Such theatrics wouldn’t be necessary this time around.

Following a 7-2 home win on Thursday, Cary blasted Garner 20-3 in the second and deciding game of their best-of-three, first-round playoff series on Friday night. Cary now meets Clayton in the best-of-five round two, which begins tonight (Wednesday).

Friday’s game was called after seven innings due to the 10-run mercy rule, but it was essentially over after the first. Garner got in a hole early as pitcher Zach Howell walked three of the first four Cary batters and allowed a double before getting pulled. Post 67 scored eight runs on six hits in the opening inning, as 12 Cary batters came up to the plate.

From there it was a mudslide, as Cary totaled 21 hits and earned nine walks en route to a 17-run shellacking.

“Our group doesn’t want it to be over yet,” said Cary coach Neil Woodall.

It certainly showed.

All nine starters for Cary earned a hit and an RBI. Left fielder Darrus Evans and catcher Drew Woodall led Post 67 with four hits apiece, while shortstop Eric Brady drove in four runs.

Three other players chipped in two RBIs each for Cary.

“They brought their bats and they hit everything thrown at them,” Woodall said. “And we played good defense. Zero errors. I’m about as proud of that as the hits.”

After the eight-run outburst in the first inning, Cary added another four in the third, then five in the fifth and topped it off with three in the sixth.

But, obviously, it was pouncing to such a substantial lead so early that gave Cary the momentum it needed.

“We jumped on them in the first inning and they had to play from behind,” Evans said.

And, as Evans pointed out, Friday was also sweet justice for Cary, as it eliminated the team that put them out of the playoffs last year.

Now, it’s Post 67 that is moving on to face Clayton, hoping its season prospers for another day.

“We have to continue to make situation hits, make routine plays and turn double plays,” Evans said.