The Meridian Lady Wildcats spoil the Brookhaven Lady Panthers dreams of a state title with a 23-11 victory in Game Three of the opening round of the 5A/6A state slowpitch softball playoffs.

In Game One, the Lady Wildcats thumped the Lady Panthers 15-4. In Game Two action, Ole Brook rallied to defeat Meridian 22-18.

“I am really please of the way we played the last two games,” said BHS coach Chad Walker. “We ran into a really hot team tonight. The girls played hard the whole season to get here and this was a great learning experience for our young team.”

The Lady Wildcats (15-14) advance to the second round and host Wayne County.

The Lady Panthers concluded their season with a 17-11 worksheet. Ole Brook finished a perfect 10-0 in the Region 5-5A/6A race.

Meridian 15, Brookhaven 4 

Johnique Hopkins pitched the win for the Lady Wildcats with no strikeouts and four walks.

Alycen Speaks suffered the setback for Ole Brook with one strikeout and six walks.

Katherine Shell sparked the Lady Panther with a home run. Jada Henderson hit a single.

Amber Echols was the offensive leader for Meridian with two home runs and a single. Miracle Dubose contributed a home and a single. Bree Grace also hit a home run. Carlissa Hopkins provided three singles. Regina Warren ripped a double and a single. Trayanna Carter had two singles. Hitting safely were Alliejah Carter, Dayja Johnson and Latalya Clayton.

Brookhaven 22, Meridian 18 

The Lady Panthers overcame a sluggish start after trailing 15-3 in the third inning to rallied from behind to defeat the Lady Wildcats in the sixth inning to force a decisive game three.

Alycen Speaks pitched the victory for Brookhaven with one strikeout and two walks.

Grace took the loss for Meridian with two strikeouts and one walk.

Julianna Porter directed the Lady Panthers explosion with two home runs. Alycen Speaks fueled the flames with a home run and two singles. Katherine Shell contributed a home run. Haley Speaks added a home run and a single. Danielle Batteast had four singles. Kat Wallace ripped a double. Hitting safely were Fallon Brook and Chantel Quarles.

Carter paced the Lady Wildcats offense with two home runs and two singles. Dubose provided a pair of doubles. A. Carter helped with three singles. Warren had a double and a single. Johnson, Hopkins and Grace hit a pair of singles. Echols, Hopkins and Spencer hit safely.

Meridian 23, Brookhaven 11 

Grace tossed the victory for the Lady Wildcats with one strikeout and no walks.

Speaks absorbed the setback for Ole Brook with no strikeouts and four walks.

Shell and Batteast were the offensive leader for the Lady Panther with a home run apiece. Wallace provided two singles. Henderson, Porter, Speaks, Quarles, and Brooks hit safely.

Warren directed the Lady Wildcats onslaught with two home runs and a single. Alissa Carter contributed a home run, a double and two singles. Echols provided a home run and a single. Trayanna Carter also hit a home run. Hopkins and ripped a double and three singles. Grace had three singles. Spencer and Dubose had a double and a single each. Nakita Hopkins hit a pair of singles. Johnson singled