Photo: Hernando’s Macie Dever Boaz makes a play on a Northwest Rankin base runner during Thursday’s MHSAA 7A state softball championship game.
Hernando’s hopes to win a state championship were dashed again by Northwest Rankin, which won its third consecutive MHSAA title and second straight 7A championship with a 9-0 shutout victory over the Lady Tigers at Hattiesburg Thursday night. The Cougars won the opener of the best-of-three series 8-3 Wednesday night.
Back-to-back big innings doomed Hernando Thursday evening as Northwest Rankin scored five times in the fifth inning and four more in the sixth frame to put the game away.
Northwest put together an 11-hit attack while Hernando again struggled at the plate, safely reaching base four times in the loss. Callie Desmond and Olivia Higginbotham did find room for doubles among the four hits. Macie Dever Boaz and Madison York also scratched base hits.
Kate Johnson was tagged for five earned runs from the circle and eight hits in 3.2 innings pitched. Johnson walked two and struck out three. Olivia Skinner and Maddie Sowell also pitched for the Lady Tigers.
Hernando finishes the season with a record of 33-4, while Northwest Rankin ends the year 32-4.
