Lawrence County edged Bogue Chitto in slow-pitch softball action Tuesday night.  The Lady Cougars jumped to a 5-0 lead, then held off a late Bogue Chitto challenge to beat the Lady Bobcats 5-3.

It was the third meeting between the two slow-pitch powerhouses, and all three have gone down to the wire.  On the opening weekend of the season at West Lincoln, Bogue Chitto won by a 4-3 score.  Two weeks ago, at LCHS, the Lady Cougars rallied for a come-from-behind 9-8 win. Tuesday’s win gave Lawrence County a 2-1 season lead over Bogue Chitto.

“Bogue Chitto always has a great team,” Lawrence County coach Meleah Howard said, herself a former Lady Bobcat standout.  “All of our games have been close.  I didn’t think tonight’s game was the best game we’ve ever played against each other, but any time you can beat Bogue Chitto, in slow-pitch or fast-pitch, it’s a good win.”

Lawrence County struck first, scoring an unearned run in the top of the second. Tyranesha Davis reached on an error.  Skyler Speights singled her to third, and Amanda Rushing drove Davis home with a sacrifice fly.

In the third, the Lady Cougars added four more runs.  Maddux Kirkland, Sydney Pevey, Davis, Julianna Johnson, and Speights had consecutive singles.  LCHS held a 5-0 lead.

Bogue Chitto got one run back in the bottom of the fourth.  Karly Leake reached on a two-out error, then came home on a Cherie Savoie double.

It remained 5-1 until the bottom of the sixth, when Bogue Chitto made things really interesting. Stevie Montgomery opened the inning with a walk. She was  later moved to second on a single by Leake. One out later, Terrah Nelson brought Montgomery home with another single, making it a 5-2 game.  Codi Leggett then added a run-scoring single, cutting the LCHS lead to 5-3.  Bogue Chitto had the potential tying runs on base, and the potential lead run at the plate, when a ground ball ended the inning.

Lawrence County pitcher Julianna Johnson retired Bogue Chitto without drama in the bottom of the seventh.

Maddux Kirkland led Lawrence County with three hits.  Pevey, Speights and Raylee Ready each had two. Davis, Johnson and Tyranesha Davis also hit safely.

For Coach Scott Leggett’s Lady Bobcats, Savoie, Nelson, Leake, Codi Leggett, Reagan Kirkland and Julianna Frazier had hits.  Stevie Montgomery did the pitching.

“Neither of us felt like we played extremely well,” Legget said after the loss. “They definitely outhit us, but we made some good defensive playes to keep it close.”

Legget said costly errors and hitting into four fielders’ choices during big moments in the game  hurt his team.

The Cougars will face Northwest Rankin at home Thursday, while Bogue Chitto will face West Lincoln the same day.

Other area games

The Brookhaven Academy Cougars lost their rematch to Simpson Academy on the road 7-4. Abeni Fuller led all hitters with two singles. Madison Moak added a single. Jana Case, Emily Claire Felder, Kailyn Jordan, Madi Smith and Julie Anna Bartram all hit singles on the night.

The Cougars will host a tournament this weekend in which they will play three varsity and junior varsity games each.

The times for the tournament have not been  announced.