For four innings pitcher Betty Mingo  and Choctaw Central held Northeast Lauderdale in check. However, the Trojans erupted for five runs in the fifth inning to pull out a 6-2 win at the Meridian Fast-Pitch Festival on Saturday at Northeast Park.

    Trailing 2-1 entering the bottom of the fifth and with little momentum, NE Lauderdale’s bats came alive. Karli Swearingen led off the inning with a single followed by a Thara Hall base hit. Elizabeth Barnacastle then reached on an error that allowed Swearingen to score. Lauren McElroy stepped up next with a two-run double before Brittany Baty and Kaytee Nelson each drove in a run that sealed the win.

    “I’m proud of the way the girls battled back after an emotional loss last night,” said Northeast Lauderdale coach Steve Nelson. “I thought that we would come out a little flat. But we battled back and came out with the win.”

    The Trojans jumped out to an early 1-0 lead off a Swearingen RBI-single in the bottom of the second inning.

    The Warriors answered back in the fourth inning when Jada Sockey drove in a run with two outs and took the lead in the top of the fifth on a Precious Farve run-scoring base hit.

    Barnacastle earned the win on the mound throwing a complete game, while allowing six hits.

    “I was proud of the way she (Barnacastle) stepped up,” added Nelson of his pitcher’s effort. “She got outs when we needed them and the defense stepped up behind her.”

    The Trojans improved to 12-5 on the season with the win and will host Division 5-4A rival West Lauderdale on Tuesday night.