February 27, 2009

Lady Tide holds on to beat Purvis 8-6

by Carey Meitzler

Picayune-- The Lady Tide stormed out of the gate against Purvis, but had to hold on for a thrilling 8-6 win over Purvis at the

Lady Tide Softball Complex.

After Picayune's Jessie Frierson surrendered a single to Purvis' Karlee Clinton, she struck out the side in the top of the first inning.

The Lady Tide then erupted for six runs in the bottom half of the inning.  Tiffany Devore slapped a double down the left field line

and Millie Gill bunted and was safe at first when the throw from the pitcher was mishandled by the Purvis first baseman.  Mallorie

Mixon singled sharply to right field scoring Devore and moving Gill to third and herself to second on the throw to the plate.  Taylor

Seals singled to bring in Gill and Mixon for a 3-0 lead.  Brooke Ladner hit into a fielder's choice that forced Seals at second base.

Hillary Dickens doubled to right center to score Ladner for a 4-0 lead.  Brandi Rabion singled to centerfield.  After a strikeout,

Brooke Meitzler slapped a ball toward third base that was misplayed and allowed Dickens and Rabion to score giving Picayune

their 6-0 lead.

All photos by John Young

Millie Gill is safe at first after her bunt attempt in the bottom of the first inning.

Mallorie Mixon singles to right field to drive in Picayune's first run against Purvis.

Picayune added a run in the third when Mallorie Mixon singled and moved up on a wild pitch.  Taylor Seals hit a

hot grounder that the short stop missed and Mixon raced home to give the Lady Tide a 7-0 lead.

Purvis got a single run in the third and three more in the fourth to make it 7-4. 

Picayune got one run in the bottom of the fifth inning playing a little "small ball".  With one out, Dickens doubled and

was replaced by pinch runner Sharonda Jackson.  After a pop fly out, Katie Kent walked.  Brooke Meitzler slapped

an infield single between the third baseman and the short stop.  With the bases loaded, Tiffany Devore slapped an

infield single scoring Jackson for a 8-4 lead.

Taylor Seals singles to bring in MillieGill and Mallorie Mixon for a 3-0 lead.

Purvis got another run in the top of the sixth.  In the seventh, the Lady Tornadoes pushed across two runs and

had the bases loaded as Frierson began to labor a little in the circle.  As leadoff hitter Clinton stepped up to the

plate, things became a little interesting as she had already had 3 hits in 4 attempts.   After the first pitch was called

a ball, catcher Taylor Seals threw a rocket to third base where Brooke Ladner snagged the ball and tagged out

the runner to end the game.

Frierson, who pitched a complete game for the second consecutive night, struck out 9 batters, walked seven

(three in last inning), and scattered eight hits.

Picayune (4-2) had 10 hits with Mixon, Devore, and Dickens with two hits apiece.