Lady Tide rallies; Advances to South State with 5-4 win over Wayne County

(video courtesy of Ed Pinero)

After Picayune took Game 1 of a best-of-three third-round playoff series earlier in the week, things were much closer this time around as the Lady Tide and Wayne County High School stood toe-to-toe in a struggle Friday night at WCHS. In the end, three runs in the top of the seventh proved to be the difference as Picayune advanced with a 5-4 win over the Lady War Eagles to win the series, 2-0.

Picayune now advances to face Long Beach in the 5A South State Tournament starting Saturday at Long Beach at 1:00pm.

Neither team could muster much offense against two solid pitchers in the early going, but then exploded for eight of the nine total runs in the final three frames.

In the top of the first, with two outs, Megan Dudenhefer reached on an error before giving way to courtesy runner Rianna McNeely. Elizabeth Taggard walked before Marissa "Poppy" McDonald singled to score McNeely and open up a 1-0 lead.

In the bottom of the fifth, with one out, Mollie Singleterry singled before Maggie West drew a walk. A single from Camryn Miller scored Singleterry, then Watts was hit by a pitch. Clark then singled to score both West and Miller to give WCHS a 4-2 advantage.

In the top of the seventh, Jessica Magee led off with a bunt, moving all the way to third base on an error on the throw to first as the sun got into first baseman Hali Harvey's eyes, allowing the throw

to roll to the right field fence.

Alyssa Pinero then singled to score Magee before Dudenhefer took a 1-1 pitch and drove it over the centerfield fence for a two-run home run that proved to be the game winner.

In the bottom of the frame, Dudenhefer retired the side in order to end the game and send the Lady Tide into the South State Championship Series.

The Lady War Eagles collected six hits on the night while Picayune had seven, including four in the decisive seventh inning.