Softball recap: Lady Tigers need nine to stop Madison Central
HERNANDO 4, MADISON CENTRAL 3 (9 INNINGS): The Lady Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the 7A first round softball series with Madison Central, defeating the Lady Jaguars 4-3 in nine innings Friday night in Hernando.
Olivia Higginbotham had the game-winning base hit to left field in the bottom of the ninth, scoring Hayden Hodge with the game-winning run.
Hernando fell behind 2-0 to Madison Central in the fourth inning but took a 3-2 lead in the sixth. The Lady Jaguars answered with a run in the seventh to send the game to extra innings.
Kaitlyn Gentry had three of Hernando’s 11 hits in the victory. Olivia Skinner was the winning pitcher in relief for the Lady Tigers, striking out three and allowing just one hit in two innings pitched.
“I really don’t think we’ve peaked yet and that’s what I am kinda waiting on,,” said Hernando coach Nicki Whitten. “I think this group still has a lot left in them that we haven’t seen this year. I’m looking forward to hopefully seeing it in the playoffs.”
LEWISBURG 13, TUPELO 4: The Lady Patriots advanced to the second round of the 7A playoffs with a 13-4 win over Tupelo and swept the Lady Wave in two straight games of the best-of-three.
Lewisburg scored five runs right away in the first inning and put the game away with four more in the seventh. Leona Klaire Stokes scored three of the Lady Patriots’ 13 runs and seven different players had two hits each. Anna Etter would get three RBIs to lead Lewisburg in that area. Kara Walker doubled twice as part of four extra base hits for the Lady Patriots. L Walker was the winning pitcher with five strikeouts and two walks in five innings pitched. Walker allowed three runs and six hits before Emma Abrams came in to relieve her.
Lewisburg will play the winner of the DeSoto Central-Clinton series in the next round best-of-three series.
DESOTO CENTRAL 6, CLINTON 4: The DeSoto Central Lady Jags got a road playoff win to open the 7A softball first round with their 6-4 victory at Clinton Friday evening. A four-run fifth inning staked DeSoto Central to a 4-1 lead and the Lady Jags added single runs in the sixth and seventh to negate a four-run Lady Arrow seventh. K Short scored twice and doubled, while Kaylee Tucker had two hits and two RBIs for the Lady Jags. Colby Young was the winning pitcher with three walks and six strikeouts in seven innings of the contest.
NESHOBA CENTRAL 12, LAKE CORMORANT 0 (4 INNINGS): Neshoba Central opened its 6A first-round playoff best-of-three series with a 12-0 victory over Lake Cormorant. The Lady Gators were held to just one hit by Alivia Burns. The series continues Saturday at Lake Cormorant.
REGULAR SEASON SOFTBALL
NORTHPOINT CHRISTIAN 5, EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN 3: Three runs scored in the second inning became the winning runs for the Lady Trojans in their 5-3 victory over ECS. Macie Dever-Boaz homered, scored two runs and drove in a pair of runs for the Lady Trojans and Josie Beth Smith had a pair of hits. Trinity Garvin was the winning pitcher with five strikeouts and nine hits allowed in the complete-game victory.
7A Prep softball playoffs
First round series – best of three
Lewisburg vs. Tupelo
Lewisburg 12, Tupelo 2 (6 innings)
Lewisburg 13, Tupelo 4 (Lewisburg wins 2-0)
DeSoto Central vs. Clinton
DeSoto Central 6 Clinton 4 (DeSoto Central leads 1-0)
Hernando vs. Madison Central
Hernando 4, Madison Central 3 (9 innings) (Hernando leads 1-0)
6A Prep softball playoffs
First round series – best of three
Neshoba Central 12, Lake Cormorant 0 (4 innings) (Neshoba Central leads 1-0)
Regular season softball
Northpoint Christian 5, Evangelical Christian 3
