In a game where neither team could get a cushion, the Columbus Cottonmouths escaped with a 3-2 victory over the Pensacola Ice Flyers.

Neither team gained more than a one-goal lead, and Sam Bowles' goal in the third period proved to be the difference maker.

After the loss made the series score 1-0 in the best of three series, Pensacola faces elimination next time out.

Orrin Hergott had a great game for Columbus, netting two goals. Hergott's tallies came at 3:18 into the first period to make the score 1-0 Columbus and 1:21 into the third to make the score 2-1 Columbus.

The Cottonmouths stifled the Ice Flyers' power play, and did not give up a single goal while down a man. Columbus relied on a core group of players for most of its offense, as Bowles, Greg Beller and Hergott took 15 of the team's 27 shots.

Other players who recorded assists for Columbus were Derek Pallardy, who had two and David Cianfrini and Andrew Krelove, who each chipped in one.

Pensacola forced the Cottonmouths goalie Ian Vigier to work between the pipes, taking 33 shots.

The Ice Flyers were led by Dan Buccella, who finished with one goal and one assist. Buccella scored 3:13 into the third period to make the score 2-2. Donnie Harris provided the assist. Pensacola also got a goal from Matthew Robertson as well.

Vigier rejected 31 shots on goal for Columbus. The Cottonmouths incurred eight minutes in penalty time with four minors. Pensacola's Steve Christie stopped 24 shots out of the 27 that he faced. The Ice Flyers incurred four minutes in penalty time with two minors.