ENTERPRISE – The Loyd Star Hornets authored a spirited comebackMonday night and rallied past the Enterprise-Clarke Bulldogs 9-7.They erased a 7-2, sixth-inning deficit to clinch the Class 2Abest-of-three playoff series by winning two straight games.

“It was one of the better comebacks I’ve ever been a part of, saidLoyd Star coach Jonathan Breakfield. “It took us five innings butwe shook off that long bus ride over there.

“We battled and never gave up,” Breakfield continued. “Our kidsplayed with a lot of heart. They refused to lose.”

The Hornets had lost the opener last Thursday at Enterprise-Clarke,losing 3-2. In a rain-soaked second game at Loyd Star, the Hornetsprevailed 8-4 Saturday.

Loyd Star (23-7) faces Richton this week in the second round of theSouth state playoffs. It will be a best-of-three series, startingFriday at 7 p.m. at Richton.

On Saturday, Loyd Star hosts Richton, also at 7 p.m. A third game,if necessary, would be played Monday, May 10.

Loyd Star scored four runs in the sixth. Travis Keene led off witha single. Brandon Canny and Marquis Hayes singled to load the baseswith two out. Tyler Case singled home a run. T.J. Floyd drew a baseon balls and Cody Smith was hit by a pitch, making it 7-4. KoreyAllen had a 2-RBI single, reducing the deficit to 7-6.

In the seventh, Leebo Bairfield led off with a walk and TravisSorrels was hit by a pitch. Canny’s fly ball to center field wasdropped. Hayes singled home the tying run. With the bases loadedand no out, Bulldog ace Tyler Copeland retired the next twobatters. Cody Smith followed with a clutch, 2-out, 2-RBI single toleft field for a 9-7 lead.

Senior right-hander T.J. Floyd (5 K, 2 BB) started and lasted fourinnings. He allowed six runs and five hits.

Junior right-hander Tyler Case (3 K, 1 BB) chalked up the win inrelief of Floyd. He allowed one run on two hits in three innings ofrelief. In the bottom of the seventh, Case retired the Bulldogs inorder.

E-C’s Copeland (10 K, 1 BB) pitched the Bulldogs into the sixthinnings. In 5.1 innings, Copeland gave up eight hits and fourruns

Jeremy Kidd (0 K, 3 BB), a submarine hurler, replaced Copeland andcompleted the sixth before Copeland returned to the mound. Kidd wastouched for five runs on four hits.

The Hornets erased a 7-2, sixth-inning deficit to the beat theBulldogs.

At the plate, Case collected three hits. Two hits were recorded bySmith, Hayes and Keene.