The West Lincoln Bears took Pisgah to a third and deciding game in their MHSAA 2A softball playoff matchup, but the Dragons from Rankin County used 18 hits on Tuesday at home to finish off the second round series with a 17-6 win.

The game was close early, as a five run third inning by West Lincoln gave the Bears (16-10) a 6-5 lead heading into the fourth inning. The Dragons then scored four runs in the fourth, four runs in the fifth and four runs in the sixth to end the game after six innings.

The Dragons (23-7) changed pitchers after WL pulled ahead 6-5 with no one out in the top of the third inning.

Pisgah sophomore Ally Young took over in the circle and got three quick outs to end the inning. After that, Young would face the minimum of three batters in the top of the fourth and three batters in the top of the sixth while giving up one hit, a single by West Lincoln sophomore Baleigh Griffith, in the top of the fifth.

Of their eighteen hits, six were extra base knocks, as the Dragons got four doubles, one triple and one home run. West Lincoln also had five errors on defense.

Sophomore Addi Myers slugged a double and drove in a run for the Bears at the plate. Griffith had two hits and two RBIs and sophomore Caroline Hedgepeth also had a two RBI effort for the Bears. Sophomore Whitney Grace Whittington and freshman Kylie Jarancik each hit safely for the Bears in the loss.

Whittington struck out three and walked three in the circle for the Bears.

West Lincoln coach Anita Thornton returns virtually her entire roster as starting left fielder Jaidyn Leggett is the only senior on the team.

The Bears won the series opener at Pisgah 4-3 last week. The Dragons then won at West Lincoln 7-1 on Saturday to set up the third game.

Pisgah, coached by West Lincoln graduate Adam Case, will move on to face Lake High (23-7) in the 2A quarterfinals.