By Angie Ledbetter
The expected tough district battle between South Panola and Hernando came to fruition Thursday night.

The South Panola Lady Tigers (16-6, 2-1) and the Hernando Lady Tigers game lasted almost three hours as South Panola came away with the extra inning district win, 9-8. The teams are now tied for first as South Panola prepares to take on Grenada in district action tonight in the Strike Out for Cancer game (SOFC) that was postponed from last night due to inclement weather.

The Lady Tigers are honoring Coach Robert Lightsey in games at 5 and 6 p.m.

Against Hernando, going into the top of the fifth the score was tied at two. In the bottom of the frame, Hernando scored one run to take a 3-2 lead. South Panola’s defense stepped up and held two Hernando runners on base. In bottom of the sixth Hernando took a 4-2 lead.

In top of the seventh, the Lady Tigers fought back. Amber Helmes drew a walk. Chloe Morgan singled advancing Helmes to second. Mallory Myers tied the game on a two RBI single driving Helmes and Chloe Morgan home.

On a 2-1 pitch, Nicole Fullilove hit a two-run homer over the center field wall to give South Panola a 6-4 lead, driving home Myers while teammates and coaches waited at the plate.
As the saying goes, the game isn’t over until the clock says zero. Hernando proved that in the bottom of the seventh and tied the game at six.

South Panola continued to battle. In top of the eighth Sydney Morgan slammed a double to start the frame. Helmes bunted reaching first. Chloe Morgan slammed a two run triple to give South Panola an 8-6 lead. Myers drew a walk putting runners on the corners. With two outs, Hannah Moore singled sending Chloe Morgan across home plate and South Panola led 9-6 going into the bottom of the frame.

Hernando second baseman Stringfellow doubled to start the inning. Next two batters got out. Left fielder Jordan drew a walk putting a runner at each corner. Center fielder Walker slammed a double driving Stringfellow home. Catcher Hitt drew a walk loading the bases. Third baseman Holley hit a single RBI to pull within one. The next batter got out by way of a pop fly to Haley Reid and South Panola left with the win.

South Panola had five hits, four errors and left seven on base. Fullilove and Chloe Morgan had two hits and five RBIs. Moore also got an RBI.

Fullilove got the win as she pitched the complete game in eight innings, striking out seven and allowing five walks. She allowed only two earned runs on eight hits.

Hernando had five errors. Kailey Hilderbrand allowed five hits, six walks and struck out seven.      
The Lady Tigers pulled off another battle Friday by edging past Southaven 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh on South Panola’s field. Scoring runs were Reid, Helmes, Myers and Chloe Morgan. Getting hits were Reid (2), Chloe Morgan (2), Myers (2), Sydney Morgan (1), Alli Cummins (1), Moore (1) and Makenzie Crutcher (1).

Reid and Chloe Morgan both tripled. Moore and Crutcher hit doubles. Hitting singled were Myers (2), Reid (1), Sydney Morgan (1), Chloe Morgan (1) and Cummins (1).

Myers picked up two RBI while Sydney Morgan and Moore picked up one each.

South Panola left five stranded and had three errors. Fullilove picked up the win in seven innings, stiking out 10. She allowed four hits, one walk and one earned run.  

Southaven had four hits and left four on base. The pitcher allowed 10 hits, one walk and struck out one.

The Lady Tigers traveled to Columbus to take on New Hope Saturday and defeated the Lady Trojans 4-3 to complete a three-day game winning streak.

Moore got the win, pitching the complete game in seven innings. She allowed six hits, one walk and struck out four.

Scoring runs for South Panola were Reid, Helmes and Chloe Morgan, two each. Reid got the only hit for South Panola when she slammed a double and picked up an RBI.  South Panola had four errors and left one on base.

New Hope had six hits, left six stranded and had one error. Pitcher DJ Sanders, who has signed with Louisiana-Lafayette, was on the mound for New Hope. She allowed one hit, walked three and struck out seven.