By Angie Ledbetter

The South Panola Lady Tigers have suffered in non-conference play but got a big boost with a 4-3 district win over Tupelo at home Tuesday.

The Lady Tigers are 3-7 overall, 1-0 district.

In the bottom of the second inning, designated player Lindsey Calvert singled. First baseman Lauren Calvert was hit by a pitch, putting runners on first and second. Shortstop Paige Jordan laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners. With runners in scoring position, catcher Amanda Ivy singled down the left field line, driving  Lindsey Calvert home.

Lady Tiger center fielder Christa Brown singled and picked up a run in the bottom of the third. With a picture book sacrifice bunt by second baseman Chelsea Allen, Brown advanced. Left fielder Meredith Roberson was hit by a pitch before third baseman Meri Morgan Fortune picked up the RBI with a fielder’s choice, driving home Brown for the second run.

The Lady Golden Wave tied the game at two in the top of the fourth inning on runs by left fielder Kaitlyn Weeks and second baseman Kays Cook.

In bottom of the fourth, Brown knocked a shot to shortstop and beat the throw to first. Allen advanced Brown on a single down the third base line.

While Roberson was at bat, Brown stole third. Roberson hit a sacrifice bunt to drive Brown home for the 3-2 lead. Allen stole her way to third and later came home on a Fortune double to right field for the 4-2 lead.

Lady Golden Wave catcher Tori Smith got some momentum going with a triple to center field. With left fielder Weeks at the plate, the next pitch by Fullilove got passed catcher Ivy. Smith attempted to come score to tie the game but Fullilove got the tag at home plate. Fullilove struck out Weeks for the third out.

Tupelo was still alive in the seventh, down by one point, center fielder Mollie Tidwell hit a double to center field. Pitcher Katie Cole followed with a double to center driving in Tidwell. The courtesy runner for Cole tried to tie the game but Ivy’s tag brought up the second out. The shortstop and right fielder were still a threat on base when first baseman Kaylen Webb hit a fly ball to left fielder Roberson. With a run saving catch, The Lady Tigers ended Tupelo’s hope for win.

“The girls played good ball and stepped up when they needed to,” said Lady Tiger head coach Ashleigh Hicks. “They were very pumped and excited about the game. We did a great job with the small game last night. They got the bunts down when I asked them to.”

The Lady Tigers had three hits, six errors and left seven on base. Fullilove threw 108 pitches.

The Lady Golden Wave had nine hits, four errors and left nine on base. Katie Cole threw 92 pitches.

Monday, the Lady Tigers traveled to Lake Comorant and lost 8-1 to the Lady Gators.

Third baseman Meri Morgan Fortune struck first with a double to right field to start the top of the second inning. First baseman Lauren Calvert hit a double RBI to right field to drive Morgan home for the only run of the game for the Lady Tigers.

The Lady Gators scored two runs in bottom of third, one in the fifth and five more in the sixth to pick up the win.  

The Lady Tigers recorded four hits, five errors and left three on base. Nicole Fullilove threw 96 pitches. LakeComorant had nine hits, four errors and left seven on base. J. Holiday had 80 pitches.

Hicks said they started the game very strong.

“We went ahead and held them for a few innings. We just need to learn to start and finish games strong.”

The junior varsity team defeated Lake Comorant 4-0 and Tupelo 4-3 to keep.

There has been a change in the upcoming schedule. The games with Tupelo that was scheduled for Monday will be played today in Tupelo at 11 a.m.and 12:30 p.m.

Also, Saturday, April 3, South Panola will host Southaven. There will be three games with the first starting at 11 a.m. with the jr. varsity, then varsity and jr. varsity to end the day.