After getting out to a 4-0 lead, the Purple Hurricanes allowed the host Tigers to get within one run before Cory Collum's three-run blast in the fifth inning essentially sealed the deal for Cartersville.
Collum finished his night with four RBIs, also getting the Canes started in the third with a run-scoring single.
Cartersville needed to prevail to have a legitimate shot at winning the region following an April 9 loss to Allatoona, who it faces next.
"It was a situation we put ourselves in to have to go up there in that atmosphere," Canes coach Stuart Chester said. "Our kids were tested, and they stood [up to] the test, you know. It wasn't anything anybody [else] did but those guys across the line. They competed, made the plays they're supposed to [make], swung the bats well and Sam Howard did a great job on the mound. It was just an opportunity for us to kind of control our own destiny."
Howard pitched a complete game, striking out 11 and giving up one earned run on seven hits, a walk and a hit batter.
Taylor Wilson's solo home run put Cartersville ahead in the second, and the Canes extended that lead to 4-0 in the third on RBI singles from Collum and Colin Bennett as well as a wild pitch, which scored another run.
The Tigers plated their first run in the bottom of the third and added two more in the fourth.
With the loss, Ringgold (19-2, 16-2 Region 7-AAA) will have to hope for Cartersville to falter down the stretch for a shot at the region crown.
The Canes (20-3, 18-1) can just about clinch the region title Monday at the Buccaneers (20-3, 17-2). They also host Pickens Thursday and visit Ridgeland Friday. All games are at 5:55 p.m.
"There's no doubt, it doesn't matter who you play this next week. It's the last week of region and what we do this week [will] carry over into the playoffs," Chester said. "This is probably one of the most important weeks we've had since the season started."