MONTICELLO – When Brookhaven and Lawrence County meet on thesoftball diamond, you can expect a close-knit, competitive contestthat will go down to the last out. Before several hundredenthusiastic fans, neither team disappointed as the Lady Panthersescaped with a 2-1 Division 6-4A win over the homestanding LadyCougars Thursday night.

Brookhaven improves to 9-3 overall and 3-1 in division play.Lawrence Co. fell to 5-5 and 2-2.

Brookhaven travels to Clinton to participate in the Clintontournament Saturday. The Lady Panthers play Poplarville at 10:45a.m., Cleveland at 3:15 p.m. and host Clinton at 6:15. LawrenceCounty plays at Mendenhall Tuesday.

Brookhaven 2, Lawrence Co. 1

“It was a good defensive game,” said Lady Panther head coach LisaCovington. “This is what Brookhaven and Lawrence County softball isall about.”

It would be LCHS’ Jill Haney’s ballclub that would open the bottomof the second with a 1-0 lead. With 1 out, DeeDee Walker doubled.Two batters later, pitcher Bridgee Williams’ single drove inWalker.

Brookhaven realized a 1-1 deadlock in the top of the third. KelseyFreeman tripled off the first pitch from Williams. Catcher KarleeMartin’s ground out to short allowed Freeman to score.

“Brookhaven got the big hit when they needed it,” Coach Haney said.”This is a good rivalry game.”

The Lady Panthers brought the winning run across home plate in thesixth. Martin singled. With 2 outs, pitcher Casey Risher singled.Terri Hodges’ base hit would score Martin.

Risher authored the win for Ole Brook. Williams took the loss forLawrence Co.

Collecting hits for the Lady Cougars were Sage Mabile, AlexandriaHarris, Shelby Mitchell (2) and Williams. Walker doubled. Reachingbase for Ole Brook were Risher, Hodges, Georgia Rae Rainer, KatieStewart and Martin. Freeman tripled.

Brookhaven posted a 6-1 in the JV game.