By Angie Ledbetter

Freshman pitcher Nicole Fullilove started the season out right, pitching a no-hitter, striking out three batters and walking three.

It  had been two years since the South Panola Lady Tiger’s fastpitch softball team opened the season with a victory but that changed Saturday when they defeated the Hernando Lady Tigers 2-1 in their home opener.

“She did an excellent job and started throwing the ball extremely hard in the middle of the game,” said Lady Tiger head coach Ashley Hicks. “Hernando has some great batters and she kept them off balance. I respect Hernando as a hitting team and I think Fullilove did very well.”

Lady Tiger head coach Ashleigh Hicks says this is the beginning of something great.

“I think this is something positive because the past two years we’ve opened up with a loss,” she said. “We talked about confidence before the game and I think this first win goes along with that.”

The South Panola Lady Tigers (2-1) scored one earned run, had five hits and two errors. Hernando (1-2) had no hits, one error and left two on base.

In the bottom of the first with two outs catcher Amanda Ivy tripled to center on a 3-1 count but did not score.

Hernando scored its only run in top of second when pitcher Sallie Carver got on base on an error and then scored on an error.

The Lady Tigers took a 2-1 lead in bottom of the third when right fielder Marla Rudd got on base on a bunt. Center fielder Christa Brown hit to right and Rudd was out on a fielders’ choice.

While shortstop Caroline Dickins was at bat Brown stole second.

Dickins picked up the second out but Brown stole third. Ivy drew a walk and made her way to second on an error. Third baseman Meri Morgan Fortune hit a RBI single to center driving home Brown. There was an error in the Hernando outfield which advanced Fortune to second and Ivy scored the second run.

The Lady Tiger’s defense stepped up in top of the fourth turning a double play. Carver drew a walk to start the inning. Third baseman Katelyn Holley was tagged going to first for the first out when pitcher Nicole Fullilove threw the ball to second baseman Lindsey Calvert.

Then a Calvert to shortstop Dickins to Fortune connection got Carver for the second out. Fullilove struck out the next batter.

“One thing we’re known for is our defense but the big play with runners on base was the defense we needed,” Hicks said. “We came up with some big plays like the double play on the bunt, getting the runners out and never giving up no matter what position on bases they are.”

The Lady Tigers left six runners on base.

“This past week all we’ve done was focus on our batting so now that we’re on the bases we have to focus on scoring them.”

Lady Tigers only had three players to strike out and that was important, according to Hicks.

“That was so important because in the past we’ve been known to hold the bats and not swing,” she said. “In those strikeouts I think we went down swinging which is a positive. I’ve told them to try to get as many pitches as you can, swing at everything and never go down looking.”

The Lady Tigers will be back in action at home today at 5 p.m. when they host Lewisburg in non-district action.