West Lauderdale’s Kayla Horton hustles down to first base safely with an RBI bunt to score a run for the Lady Knights against Corinth Monday afternoon.

West Lauderdale seniors Cayley Nance and Mallory Thompson are acclimated to playing in high-pressure postseason games.

Facing elimination to Corinth Monday in the opening round of the playoffs, the two proved their mettle.

Nance churned out two extra-base hits, Thompson rifled in a late lead-saving throw to home plate, and West Lauderdale defeated Corinth 4-2 Monday afternoon to advance to the second round of the postseason. 

After falling behind 1-0 in the series last week, West Lauderdale grabbed a 12-1 Game 2 victory Saturday. Rain pushed back Game 3 to Monday, but the one-day break didn’t appear to slow the Lady Knights’ momentum. West Lauderdale outscored Corinth 19-7 in the series.

“I’ve never questioned their ability to come from behind,” Lady Knights’ coach Jessie Kennedy said. “We tend to do better when the pressure’s on, anyway, so I’ve never had an issue with that. These are the type of girls who are fighters — I’ve said it a million times. They are not going to lay down and die, they’re going to fight to the bitter end. And they’re good at picking each other up.”

Trailing 2-3 at the top of the fifth with Corinth’s McKenzie Patterson on second base, Kh’ierra Taylor singled to Thompson. As the ball raced toward Thompson, Patterson rounded third and made a beeline to home plate. Thompson rifled a throw to catcher Lily Ramsey, who tagged Patterson out just before her foot touched home plate. Thompson’s throw thwarted Corinth’s tying run and ended the inning.

“Our coach told us the play before to give 110 percent,” Thompson said. “The ball was hit, and I knew I had to get the ball, and I missed it. But I just threw it home. It was awesome. It definitely stopped the momentum from them, and it kept it for us.”

While Thompson provided West Lauderdale a defensive spark, Nance contributed offensively. She finished with a game-high two hits, both doubles, and scored in the bottom of the fifth. Nance blasted a third-inning double and was replaced by courtesy runner Victoria Irby, who scored.

“Coach told me, ‘Whenever you get in the box, just clear everything that’s in your head and see the ball and hit it,’” Nance said. “So I tried to pump my team up. I knew this was not going to be my last game. I did what I had to do for my team.”

Corinth’s Tiara Selmon singled after a Lady Knights’ fielding error in the first inning and put the Lady Warriors ahead 1-0 on a double by Colby Cox. Corinth’s lead didn’t hold for long. Kenleigh Williams was sent home on a Corinth passed ball in the bottom of the first to knot the score at 1. 

Kamryn Shields’ RBI fielder’s choice in the bottom of the third plated Williams and made the score 2-1 in West Lauderdale’s favor. 

Kayla Horton bunted in the bottom of the fourth and made it safely to first base after an error by Corinth’s Patterson, upon which West Lauderdale capitalized when Irby raced home for the Lady Knights’ third run of the afternoon. 

Tatiana Selmon was plated by Tiara Selmon in the top of the fifth to cut West Lauderdale’s lead to 3-2. But Thompson’s throw from shortstop ended the inning with the Lady Knights’ lead intact. 

Ramsey added an insurance RBI in the bottom of the sixth to score Nance, and West Lauderdale starting pitcher Lexie Smith induced three consecutive Corinth outs in the top of the seventh to clinch the series.

Smith earned the win by striking out five Lady Warriors’ batters. She also didn’t yield any earned runs.

West Lauderdale hosts Pontotoc in Game 1 of the second round of the Class 4A playoffs at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

While Nance isn’t looking too far ahead at her team’s postseason path, she said she likes its chances.

“I’m just ready for my team to come out here and just play like we’re capable of playing — making every play and being error free,” she said.