Southeast Lauderdale and Meridian opened the Meridian Slow-Pitch Festival with a bang Saturday morning at Northeast Park.

After allowing the host Wildcats to score eight runs in the first inning, Southeast answered right back with seven in the top of the second to tie it, going on to rally for an 11-9 win.

Meridian regained the lead with a run in the bottom of the second before being shutout for the next five innings. The Lady Tigers, though, tied the game again in the fifth before adding two runs in the top of the seventh to win it.

Denisha Knight led Southeast's attack with four hits, including a double and two triples. Bri Roulier added three hits and Baleigh Booker and Rachel Adams each recorded two hits to back Taylor Powell, who improved to 1-1 on the season.

Meridian was led by Labresha Warren, who had a triple on three hits. E.T. Warren also tripled and Olivia Taylor had two hits. Emily Ware (1-4)suffered the loss for the Lady Wildcats.

— Jamie Wachter



Meridian 7

Hattiesburg 2



The Lady Wildcats fell behind in the first inning, but answered the Lady Tigers’ one run with two of their own to take the lead for good.

Meridian added three runs in the third and two in fifth to grab a 7-1 lead. Hattiesburg added another run in the sixth.

Taylor, Ware and Chelsea Byrd paced the Lady Wildcats with two hits each. Ware drove in two runs, while Taylor added a triple.

Lebresha Warren also tripled for Meridian.

— Jamie Wachter



Meridian 9

Houston 5



Meridian scored three in the first inning to again take an early lead. After adding two more in the fourth, though, Houston rallied to tie it at 5 in the top of the fifth.

The Lady Wildcats, though, responded with four in the bottom of the inning to grab the win.

E.T. Warren had three hits, including a triple, and two RBIs, while Labresha Warren drove in two runs on two hits, as did Taylor.

Kelly Offenberger and Heather Reed also had two hits for the Lady Wildcats.

Ware improved to 3-2 for Meridian, which hosts Quitman on Tuesday.

— Jamie Wachter



Tishomingo Co. 14

SE Lauderdale 1



The Lady Tigers grabbed an early lead in their second game of the day, grabbing a 1-0 advantage in the top of the second. The lead was short-lived, though, as Tishomingo County exploded for 11 runs in the bottom half of the frame.

Tishomingo added three more runs in the fourth inning, finishing with eight hits and taking advantage of six Southeast errors.

Powell took the loss for the Lady Tigers, who had no multiple hitters and no extra base hits.

— Jamie Wachter



Nettleton 18

SE Lauderdale 2



Nettleton jumped all over Southeast early, plating 13 runs in the bottom of the first inning. Nettleton added a solo tally in the second and four more in the fourth. Southeast scored its two runs in the fourth.

Miranda Chatham, Cortney Harper and Kimberly Duncan all recorded two hits, while Knight doubled for Southeast.

Powell suffered the loss, falling to 1-3 on the season.

Southeast (2-5) hosts West Lauderdale on Tuesday.

— Jamie Wachter



Neshoba Central 5

Houston 1



The Lady Rockets scored five runs in the fourth inning of their opener at the Meridian Slow-Pitch Festival to win easily. Houston scored its lone tally in the sixth.

Jordan Clearman picked up the win for Neshoba Central, improving to 3-1 on the year.

Ty Buckley led the Lady Rockets with two hits, including a double. Eden McGee went 3-for-3.

— Jamie Wachter



Nettleton 3

Neshoba Central 1



Nettleton jumped on top early, scoring two in the second inning. After Neshoba closed within 1 run with a tally in the fourth, Nettleton answered with a third run in the top of the seventh.

Clearmon fell to 3-2 on the year with the loss. McGee went 2-for-3.

Neshoba (3-2) returns to action Tuesday at Canton.

— Jamie Wachter



Nettleton 5

Quitman 3



The Lady Panthers were held to only four hits in their first game at the Meridian Slow-Pitch Festival.

The loss was the first of the season for Quitman.

— Jamie Wachter



New Hope 14

Quitman 6



Stormy Lewis had three hits for Quitman, which dropped its second straight game of the day after entering with an unbeaten 2-0 record.

The Lady Panthers' also got hits from Whitney Neely, Hannah Nelson and Brooke Dew.

— Jamie Wachter



Quitman 10

Houston 8



After losing its first two games of the day, Dew made sure the Lady Panthers didn't go winless.

With Quitman trailing 8-7, Dew delivered a three-run triple to provide the game-winning hit. Neely added three hits for Quitman (3-2).

The Lady Panthers play at Meridian on Tuesday.

— Jamie Wachter



Clarkdale 13

Northwest Rankin 2



The host Lady Bulldogs overpowered the visiting Lady Cougars, scoring eight runs in the first inning Saturday and adding five more in the second.

Northwest Rankin scored lone runs in the fourth and fifth.

Cory Roberson earned the win, improving to 4-0.

Sarah Beckman paced Clarkdale (4-0) with three hits, including a double. Amber Spann and Abby Roberts also notched three hits for the Lady Bulldogs. Sarah Harris and Alex Smith added two hits.

Clarkdale visits Newton County on Tuesday.

— Jamie Wachter