Mabry Eason's no-hitter clinches 2023 MHSAA Class 4A Championship for West Lauderdale

HATTIESBURG — West Lauderdale softball coach Jake Loper doesn't recall every detail of his first meeting with sophomore Mabry Eason when she transferred in from Russell Christian School in Alabama in the middle of the season.

What he does remember is thinking she was going to help the Lady Knights, and immediately.

Eason proved him right Thursday afternoon, hurling a six-inning no-hitter and slamming a three-run homer to push West Lauderdale over the top in an 11-0 win over North Pike to clinch the 2023 MHSAA Class 4A State Championship at the USM Softball Complex.

"I thought we might win," Eason said. "But I never expected it would be a no-hitter."

Eason was masterful, working around a pair of walks and striking out five hitters in five innings to pick up the win.

The Lady Knights (29-8) didn't waste any time on offense Thursday, plating four runs in the first inning. Three of those came on Eason's home run — a no-doubter over the centerfield fence on a 1-and-1 fastball.

They picked up four more runs in the third, one in the fourth and two more in the sixth.

Eason finished the day 3-for-3 with four RBIs. Class 4A Miss Softball Breelyn Cain was 2-for-2 with two RBIs and a walk. Catcher Raegan Brady doubled and drove in two runs.

"It's just a really special group of girls," Loper said. "I felt like in February we had a chance to do something special. But it wouldn't have been possible if not for all the blood, sweat and tears this team put in all year."

North Pike (21-12) never could scratch anything across, despite advancing both of their two base runners into scoring position.

Natalie Deer suffered the loss, giving up four earned runs on four hits and two walks in 2.1 innings of work.

Ann Elise Duncan pitched the final 3.2 innings and gave up three runs on four hits and a pair of walks.