Junior pitcher Madison Bigner connected on two home runs and threw a complete game as the North Pike softball team opened the first round of the playoffs Tuesday with a 13-4 win at home against Pass Christian.
Game 2 of the three-game series is at 4 p.m. Thursday at Pass Christian. North Pike would clinch the series with a win. If the Lady Pirates win, they will host the rubber match immediately following Game 2.
Bigner, who has continued to play and carry much of the load since her home burned down April 19, went 2 for 2 with a three-run homer, a two-run homer, six RBIs, one walk and one sacrifice fly. She has committed to playing for Delta State University in college.
“She hit those well again today,” Lady Jaguars head coach Sonya Wallace said. “We’re just trying to get her to relax and have a little fun in there. …We had a lot of girls get in there and get some hits today. I’m extremely proud of the whole team. They got in there, battled and hit the ball well today.”
Bigner’s first home run came in the bottom of the first inning after a Sarah Brock triple and Janiah Talbert walk. Linley Smith walked and scored the other run of the inning on a Jenna Brock sacrifice fly to put North Pike ahead 4-0.
Bigner’s other home run was a part of a four-run bottom of the third where the Lady Jaguars (19-6, 8-2) extended their lead to 11-3. Talbert reached on a fielder’s choice and Bigner hit a two-out, two-run homer to cap off the rally.
Jenna Brock led off the inning with a walk. Whitley Howell attempted a sacrifice bunt, but Pass Christian’s catcher committed a throwing error. Jenna Brock and Howell both scored on the play.
The Lady Pirates committed six errors in the loss.
Bigner gave up four earned runs, four walks and one homer while recording five strikeouts in the win.
A Pass Christian batter hit a three-run homer off of Bigner in the top of the second to cut North Pike’s lead to 4-3, but the Lady Jaguars never lost their lead.
The mercy rule comes into effect when a team leads by at least 10 runs after five innings. North Pike missed ending the game on the mercy rule by one run.
However, Wallace was proud of the way her team bounced back after Pass Christian cut North Pike’s lead to one run.
“We didn’t just quit with the bats after they scored those three,” Wallace said. “We put some runs right back on the board and took the lead right back up and continued to score all the way through the fifth inning, I believe. We just could never get that last run when we needed it.”
Sarah Brock was 3 for 5 with a double, triple, RBI and three runs; Talbert was 1 for 3 with three runs and one walk; Jami Spears was 2 for 4 with one run and one RBI; Smith had two walks and one run; Madison Bates was 2 for 4 with one RBI; Jenna Brock was 1 for 1 with one walk, one run and one RBI; Howell was had two RBIs and one run; and Janay Maxwell was 1 for 3 with one run and one walk.
If the Lady Jaguars win Round 1, they open Round 2 Monday.
