D’IBERVILLE – For the past several weeks, the Brookhaven LadyPanther slowpitch softball team has played outstanding defense. OnTuesday afternoon, down on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the LadyPanther bats came to life.

Brookhaven came from behind in both games to win the best-of-3series with the D’Iberville Lady Warriors 2-0.

In game one, Brookhaven trailed 4-3 heading into the fifth;before scoring 8 runs over the final 3 innings for an 11-4. Thenightcap saw the Lady Panthers behind 6-3. Brookhaven plated 4 runsin the bottom of the sixth, and held on for the 7-6 win.D’Iberville finished the season at 21-10.

“This is the farthest that our team has ever been in theplayoffs,” said Lady Warrior head coach Vince Husley.

The Lady Panthers travel to Monticello to meet the LawrenceCounty Lady Cougars Saturday. This South State Class 4A semifinalbest-of-3 series is set to begin at 12 noon. The Lady Cougars sweptthe Lady Panthers during the regular season’s division play,2-0.

Lawrence County swept George County 2 straight games yesterday aLucedale. The Lady Cougars defeated the Lady Rebels 3-0 and8-6.

Brookhaven 11, D’Iberville 4

Brookhaven (20-6) jumped out to a 3-0 lead before a 4-run rallyby the Lady Warriors garnered a 4-3 lead heading into the fifthinning.

Lady Panther Christi Martin singled. Two batters later, MeganBateman doubled to score Martin and tie the game at 4-4. Martin andher teammates would take the lead for good in the sixth, scoring 5runs. Martin highlighted the inning with 3-run triple that scoredPortia Dickey, Taylor Crane and Kelly Vinson.

Brittany Smith authored the win for Brookhaven. Bateman singledtwice and doubled. Martin singled, doubled, tripled, scored 3 runsand had 4 RBIs. Ashley Sykes doubled, tripled and scored twice.

Amanda Jarrett suffered the loss for the Lady Warriors.

Brookhaven 7, D’Iberville 6

D’Iberville (21-10) opened the nightcap by taking an early 5-0lead in the first inning. Triples by Kim Wagner and Valerie Curtisscored 3 runs. Wagner and Curtis would also score for the LadyWarriors.

Brookhaven (21-6) began to chip away at their deficit in thebottom of the first.

Brittany Smith singled. Two batters later, Sykes reached on anerror. Dickey singled to score Smith and Sykes and the LadyPanthers trailed 5-2.

Husley’s ballclub added 1 run in the second before theD’Iberville bats went nearly silent.

The Lady Panthers, coached by Lisa Covington and John Ogden,scored once in the fourth to trail 5-3. Allyson Wallace reached ona fielder’s choice. Sykes singled but a fielding error by the LadyWarriors allowed Wallace to score.

In the sixth, Brookhaven came to life for the second time.Lauren Smith led off the inning with a single. Bateman singled.Brittany Smith singled and advanced to second on a fielding errorby D’Iberville that allowed Lauren Smith to score. Wallace’ssacrifice fly to left field scored Bateman. Sykes’ triple scoredBrittany Smith. Dickey singled to score Sykes and the potentialgame-winning run.

“We got the runs when we needed them today,” said Covington. “Iam proud of these girls.”

The Lady Warriors were able to load the bases with 2 outs in thetop of the seventh inning. On an 0-2 count, Amy Madden fouled outto end the game, igniting a jubilant celebration by thered-and-blue clad visitors.

“We had a chance to win,” said Husley. “We are very young. Wehave only one senior and started a pair of seventh-graders.”

Brittany Smith picked up the win for the Lady Panthers, whilescoring twice and hitting 3 singles at the plate. Dickey singledtwice. Sykes singled and tripled.

Jarrett suffered the loss for the Lady Warriors.