By Maurice Singleton/Sports Writer

PASS CHRISTIAN – After winning game one on the road, Pass Christian took an early lead in the second game of their second-round playoff game against Purvis on Saturday.

But Purvis would take the lead in the top of the fifth inning on its way to a 3-1 win over the Pirates and in the process tying the series at one game apiece.

Game three is set for Monday night at 6:30 p.m., back in Purvis.

The Pirates got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second inning. With one out and runners on first and second, LJ Jaynes singled into short right field, driving home Cooper Lyrock from second base for the Pirate’s score.

Pass held the visitors scoreless in the first four innings, but in the top of the fifth, the Tornadoes got going. The leadoff hitter sent a shot deep into centerfield for a double. The next batter would send a grounder between second and third base, but the throw was not in time.

Zachary Henderson struck out the next batter for the first out of the inning. His next batter sailed one into centerfield. Jaynes caught the fly for the second out and made a perfect throw to home plate, which resulted in a very close call at the plate, but the runner was safe.

The Tornadoes would score another run in the inning, following a mishandled ground ball in the infield. Their lead was 2-1 after five innings, and they would add an insurance run in the seventh to close out the game’s scoring.

“We made too many mistakes,” said Pass coach Ricky Smith. “But we still had opportunities to win the ball game. We get to come back and do that on Monday.

“We’re going to be fine,” said Smith. “Our pitching is going to line up just fine. We’ve been in that atmosphere. This will be our third time up there this season. We know it’s going to be tough, but we’ll be ready.”