By Myra Bean
When Desoto Central softball comes to town, it is time to put everything aside because everyone knows it is going to be a battle.

Monday night was no exception.. The South Panola Lady Tigers and the Lady Jaguars took the game to the wire, but the Lady Tigers held on for the 6-4 victory.

South Panola used a two-run first inning and three-run second inning to hold off the Jaguars and claim bragging rights until the next meeting.

Desoto came out on the offensive in top of the first and got on the boards with one run.

The Lady Tigers answered with two runs on an Alli Cummings two RBI (runs batted in) single. She drove home Mallory Myers who had singled to get on base and Nautica Edwards who was courtesy running for pitcher Nicole Fullilove. Fullilove singled to get on base.

After limiting Desoto to three-up/three-down in the second, South Panola turned up the heat.
With the bases loaded, Fullilove hit a bases-clearing double to left center field to drive home Makenzie Crutcher, Chloe Morgan and Mallory Myers to take a 5-1 lead.

Sydney Morgan singled but was out on a fielders choice by Crutcher. Morgan Parker also singled but was out going to third base on a fielders choice by Myers who loaded the bases. In between, Chloe Morgan had earned a walk. On a 3-1 pitch, Fullilove slammed a line drive into left center field that rolled almost to the backstop.

Desoto Central played catch up in the third inning, scoring two unearned runs on fielding errors by the Lady Tigers to cut the lead 5-3. The Lady Jaguars added one run in top of the fourth on a passed ball to pull within one, 5-4.

The fifth inning was three-up/three-down for both teams.

Sydney Morgan singled in the sixth inning and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Parker. On a ground up to second by Crutcher, Morgan moved to third. Chloe Morgan singled, driving home her little sister, Sydney, for the insurance run.

The Lady Tiger defense had  big job keeping the Lady Jaguars from scoring in top of the seventh.

The first batter singled, got to second on a wild pitch and advanced to third on a stolen base. Fullilove struck out the second batter, but the third batter earned a walk putting runners at first and third. The next batter struck out bringing the all important lead off batter to the plate. She popped a ball that Fullilove was able to snag for the third and final out.

Fullilove struck out 10 of the 28 Desoto Central batters she faced for the complete game win.
South Panola head coach Ashleigh Hicks told her team in the fourth inning that striking out was selfish. Only one Lady Tiger struck out on the night.

Fullilove allowed two walks, three hits, and four unearned runs on the night. The team committed five errors.

Myers led at the plate going 3-for-4 with two runs followed by Fullilove, 2-for-3, and two RBIs and one run by Edwards.

Other hitters include Chloe Morgan, 2-for-2, one run, one RBI; Sydney Morgan, 2-for-3, one run; Taylor Utz, 1-for-3; Cummins, 1-for-3, two RBIs; and Crutcher, 1-for-3.

The Lady Tigers opened the district season last night at Tupelo and will play in the Morris Hunter Invitational Tournament Friday and Saturday in Southaven.

The jr. varsity plays Brighton, Tenn. Friday at 4 p.m. and Saturday at 9 and 10:15 a.m. against Desoto Central and Lewisburg, respectively.

South Panola varsity and Marshall Academy will open the tournament at 5:30 p.m. Friday. South Panola will also play Lake Cormorant at 8:30 p.m. Friday.

Saturday afternoon, the Lady Tigers will play Catholic, La. at 12:30 p.m. and Arlington, Tenn. at 3:30 p.m.

Monday, the jr. varsity will travel to Water Valley for games at 5 and 6 p.m.

Tuesday, the Lady Tigers will host St. Benedict in non-district action at 5 and 6 p.m.