Michael Busby had a perfect game at the plate Tuesday, going 4-for-4 with a double, RBI and three runs scored.

On the mound, he was only slightly less flawless.

Busby scattered five hits in a complete-game shutout and finished with 17 strikeouts to lead Porters Chapel to a 9-0 win in Game 1 of their MPSA Class AA first-round playoff series with Columbia Academy.

&#8220It took me a little while to get stretched out. But I felt good. I felt like I had control of my fastball and curveball,” said Busby, a Mississippi State signee whose fastball topped out in the low 90 mph range on Tuesday. &#8220The fastball on the outside corner, they couldn’t pull the trigger on it. Then I’d throw one inside just to cross them up.”

The first 15 outs PCA recorded came via a strikeout. Columbia (14-12) did not make an out on a batted ball until Ben Selmon led off the sixth with a groundout to short.

It was the type of dominating performance by Busby that Columbia coach Brandon Thornhill had anticipated. Thornhill threw his No. 4 pitcher Kody Boughtman in the series opener, opting to save left-handed ace Hunter Farrar for Game 2 on Thursday at Columbia and take his chances in a two-game, do-or-die situation.

&#8220I saved my best three pitchers for later in the series. That was the strategy. I’ve seen how they did with teams in the district, and even the Sheppard kid from Franklin who throws 90 they won 3-1. So even if we hold them to a couple runs, we’re not going to score many,” Thornhill said. &#8220I know they have better pitchers down the line, but we’re not going to see another 90 mph guy.”

PCA (31-3) got to see one who was considerably slower than that. Boughtman appeared to be throwing in the upper 70 mph range, and the slower speed threw the Eagles off for a couple innings. They took a 1-0 lead on Moose Carney’s RBI single in the first, then blew the game open on their next trip through the lineup.

Boughtman hit Spencer Pell with a two-strike pitch to lead off the bottom of the third, and the next seven PCA hitters all got a hit. Only one, Busby’s RBI double, went for extra bases, but the other six singles brought in five runs and put PCA ahead 7-0.

In all, PCA sent 10 batters to the plate. It was the 37th time this season that the Eagles have batted around. They’ve done it at least once in 25 of their 34 games.

&#8220We’ve always been like that,” Busby said of the Eagles’ slow start and sudden explosion. &#8220The important thing is, we did put some runs on the board.”

The Eagles tacked on two more runs on an error and Matt Cranfield’s sacrifice fly in the fourth inning, but couldn’t get a 10th run to close out the game via the mercy rule. They left the bases loaded in the fourth and fifth, then went down in order in the sixth.

That forced Busby to throw more pitches than might have been necessary, but hardly affected the outcome. Columbia put two runners in scoring position in each of the last two innings before Busby buckled down and escaped the jams.

&#8220We’re disappointed that we didn’t close the game out, but I’m proud of the win. It’s a good, solid playoff win,” PCA coach Randy Wright said.