Brandi Bond's seventh-inning double helps Sumrall rally past Kosciusko in Game Two of MHSAA 4A Softball Championship

HATTIESBURG — Sumrall has faced elimination a couple of times in these 2022 MHSAA 4A Softball Playoffs, including being down to their final nine outs in a win-or-go-home Game Three against North Pike in the South State Championship a week ago.

But even that experience couldn’t prepare them for Wednesday’s come-from-behind, 5-4 win over Kosciusko to extend the 4A Championship Series at the Southern Miss Softball Complex.

Down to their final three outs, the Bobcats scored three runs on four hits in the top of the seventh to take a 5-3 lead, and reliever Ashlyn Burkhalter got the final three outs to preserve the win.

“I’m so proud,” Sumrall coach Dobie Robertson said. “We told our seniors we said ‘Girls, we don’t want this to be your last game. You’ve worked it and you’ve done this two times before in the playoffs, let’s see it again. Then all three of our seniors came through with singles, and Brandi Bond hits that double, it’s just awesome.”

Game Three in the series is set for 11 a.m. Saturday morning. If it’s anything like the first two games, it’ll be a barn-burner.

Less than 24 hours after losing a wild Game One 9-7 after a late Kosciusko rally, the Bobcats put together a comeback of their own. Bond’s game-winning double came after singles from Londyn Robertson, Anna Grace Shows and Shaylee Ingram and put the Bobcats ahead for good.

“I was just thinking it would be good if I got a hit there,” Bond said. “I hadn’t had a hit in this series… it was like middle-in, and I was looking in.”

Ingram and Burkhalter were the only two Bobcats to record multiple hits Wednesday, but Sumrall played better defensively, and that proved to be the difference. Left fielder Shaylee Ingram robbed the Whippets of a double in the sixth, and Bond made a fantastic play in right field in the seventh, making a catch over her shoulder on the warning track, to help seal the win.

Avery Smith gave up a run on two hits in the first 1.2 innings, and Burkhalter pitched the final 5.1 innings to get the win. She only gave up two earned runs on four hits with three strikeouts.

“Their outfield has played tremendously,” Kosciusko coach Tony Terry said. “I’m telling you, I’ve been doing this 19 years, and that’s as good of an outfield as I’ve seen. We had a double taken away in left, and the one in the seventh to right field… that was a huge play. If she doesn’t make that play, she’s standing on third. They are a gritty team. We think we are too. Saturday will be about what you expect.”

PHOTO GALLERY