Petal forces a decisive Game 3: Takeaways from Day 3 of the MHSAA softball championships

HATTIESBURG — The Mississippi High School Activities Association softball championships continued Thursday at the Southern Miss Softball Complex as two teams forced a Game 3.

Here are three takeaways from the second day of championship play.

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Taylorsville's big sixth inning forces Game 3

The Tartars trailed 4-1 heading into the top of the sixth inning as Vardaman – led by senior pitcher Makynlie Jones – held Taylorsville to five hits with one strikeout through five innings. However, that quickly changed for the Tartars.

Taylorsville's bats came alive in the in the sixth as the Tartars rattled off six hits leading to six runs and a 7-4 victory in Game 2 of the Class 1A championship series.

Senior Emma Kennedy started a string of four consecutive hits with a single up the middle to start the inning. Junior Madelyn Chennault, Senior Katelyn Horn and Tinli Phillips followed with singles, including an RBI from Phillips.

Seniors Emma Rankin and Latia Keyes closed out the fifth with RBI singles to extend the Taylorsville lead.

Emma Rankin closes for the Tartars

Rankin didn't have an ideal start for Taylorsville, but the senior pitcher came up big when it mattered Thursday. Rankin gave up three runs in the first inning and hit Madison Terrell with the bases loaded in the fifth to extend the Rams lead.

Vardaman only registered one hit afterward. Rankin retired six of the next seven batters and finished with nine strikeouts to help force Game 3 on Friday.

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Petal evens the Class 6A series

Natalie Herrington was stellar in Game 1 on Wednesday. The senior limited Hernando to seven hits and two earned runs in a 3-1 oss to the Tigers. The Petal bats didn't show up to support her but that changed in Game 2.

Herrington held Hernando to eight hits and only two runs along with seven strikeouts in the Panthers' 7-2 victory.

"We mixed in a changeup — which was a lot more effective — and even some curveballs," Herrington said. "We threw everything today."

Kinley Hogue led the way offensively for Petal. The senior had a triple and three RBIs along with two intentional walks.

"I know this team," Herrington said. "They're super competitive and we don't like losing. We always bounce back. I know me and my team all feel the same about that."

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: MHSAA softball 2022 championships: Takeaways, results from Day 3