By Angie Ledbetter

After losing every game in the Clarkdale Tournament, the South Panola Lady Tigers returned home and shut out Horn Lake Monday in a non-district doubleheader, 10-0 and 9-0.

On Friday South Panola lost 5-2 to Neshoba Central and 1-0 to Harrison Central. Saturday they fell 2-0 to New Hope and 4-0 to Northwest Rankin. Scoring runs were Caroline Dickins and Lindsey Calvert.

Head Coach Ashleigh Hicks said, “In Meridian we went up against three top teams. I think our age somewhat showed but we were in every game. We just have to keep our heads up and keep working.”

Due to state testing the double header with Horn Lake was moved up one day.

“The Horn Lake games were much better,” said Hicks. “That’s how we should be hitting every game. I think those games will give us a boost to move forward.”

In the first game, the Lady Tigers had eight hits, two errors and left eight on base. The Lady Eagles had two hits, five errors and left four on base. Nicole Fullilove picked up the win for the Lady Tigers striking out eight batters, allowing two hits and one walk.

In bottom of the second the Lady Tigers scored four runs. First baseman Lauren Calvert got hit by a pitch to start the action. Madison Taylor came in as pinch runner for Calvert. Shortstop Dickins drew a walk advancing Taylor to second.

While Fullilove was at bat, Taylor stole third and Dickins stole second.

With two outs and center fielder Christa Brown at bat, Taylor stole home for the first run of the game and Dickins stole third. Brown drew a walk. While catcher Amanda Ivy was at bat, Dickins scored on a passed ball. Ivy doubled, scoring Brown. Second baseman Tory Helton singled to center, driving Ivy home for the fourth run of the inning.

The Lady Tigers added five runs in bottom of the fifth. With one out, right fielder Taylor Browning drew a walk. Brown singled sending Browning to second.

Ivy hit her second double, sending Browning home. Helton singled, loading the bases. Designated player Diamond Browning singled, driving Brown home.

With Ivy on third and Helton on second, third baseman Meri Morgan Fortune popped a sacrifice fly to right for the second out while driving Ivy home for the 7-0 lead.

While Lauren Calvert was at bat, Helton stole third and Browning stole second. Calvert drew a walk loading the bags. Dickins drew a walk which sent Helton home for run number eight.

Fullilove singled to left, scoring Diamond Browning for the 9-0 lead.

In bottom of the fifth, Brown singled to center and scored on a Lindsey Calvert RBI single to end the contest on the 10-run mercy rule.

Hicks told the team after the game she was very proud of them. “I want another game like this one. When you pull the trigger we hit and get ready to play. We don’t give up or give in. If you lay down they will come back and beat you.”

In the second game, Helton pitched the complete game and got the win with 10 strike outs, no walks and allowed four hits.

The Lady Tigers had 11 hits with no errors. The Lady Eagles had three hits with nine errors.

As visitors in the second game, the Lady Tigers scored two runs in top of the first. With one out, Helton  singled and drove home Ivy who singled.

Fortune drove home Haley Reid, courtesy runner for Helton, on a ground out to right.

In the fourth, the Lady Tigers added three runs by Fortune, Dickins and Diamond Browning.

Ivy hit a triple to left in top of the inning and scored on a passed ball by the Eagle’s catcher for the 6-0 lead. With two outs in top of the sixth, Brown singled to right and scored on an Ivy double to center.

The Lady Tigers cleared the bench in the seventh for the last two runs.

Haley Reid, running for Mary Beth Hayes who had walked, scored on a RBI single by Morgan Aldison.

Marla Rudd singled and scored on a Lindsey Calvert RBI single for the last run of the game.

The Lady Tigers were back in action Thursday at St. Benedict in Memphis. They host Southaven today and play in the Grenada tournament Saturday. They play New Hope at 11:45 a.m. and Cleveland 1 p.m.

Monday, the Lady Tigers travel to Lake Cormorant for non-conference action at 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, they start district action in Starkville at 5 p.m.