By Brad Greer

Fueled by an eight-run fourth inning, the South Panola Tigers picked up their first win of the 2013 baseball season, in a convincing fashion, with a 12-2 romp  in six innings at Olive Branch Saturday afternoon.

The victory comes on the heel of South Panola’s 13-0 season opening loss to the Conquistadors on Friday night at home.

South Panola took a 2-1 lead after three innings before blowing the game open by plating eight runs in the top of the fourth. The Tigers added single runs in the fifth and sixth inning. Olive Branch scored single runs in the first and fifth innings.

Landon Fullilove led the 11-hit South Panola attack with three singles. Will Daugherty drove in a pair of runs on two singles while Hunter Durham also registered two singles.

Chance Whitten also contributed with a double and single at the plate. Whitten also picked up the win on the mound, tossing five innings. Taylor Karr closed out the game pitching one inning in relief.

Preston Blair doubled and Lane Massey singled to close the hits for South Panola.

The lopsided victory was in sharp contrast of Friday night’s loss to Olive Branch in which the Tigers were held to one-hit  by Conquistador starting pitcher Taylor Bobo.

The senior left-hander retired the first 12 batters in order before Whitten broke up Bobo’s bid for a perfect game with a leadoff single to open up the fifth inning. Durham then reached on a fielders choice to put runners on first and second with no outs.

After both runners advanced to second and third on a wild pitch, Bobo regained his composer and struck out the side to end the game.

Olive Branch roughed up South Panola starting pitcher Hunter Ivy in the top of the first by scoring four runs on three hits that included a two-run single from Clay Casey along with a two-out RBI triple from Bobo.

The Conquistadors put the game away in the second by plating five runs on two hits before adding three more runs in the third for a 12-0 lead.

Ivy took the loss by surrendering nine runs on five hits while walking five and striking out four in 1.2 innings. Austin Towles gave up four runs (one earned) while walking one and fanning two batters in 3.1 innings of relief.

South Panola will be back in action tonight as they host Cleveland at 7 p.m.