By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

HATTIESBURG — Three was not a magic number for the “Southern Six” in the Hub City so far.

East Central, the third of a trio of “Southern Six” squads vying for state softball championships here at the University of Southern Mississippi this week, became the third team. to drop game one as the Lady Hornets fell to Corinth 5-1 in game one of the Class 5A title tilt Wednesday afternoon. 

The Lady Hornets followed suit of the hands played by Hancock on Tuesday afternoon and St. Patrick earlier Wednesday morning in falling behind in their respective best of three series’.

Game two between East Central and Corinth was originally set for Friday, but there were talks of moving the contest up a day to Thursday because of possible incoming weather related issues.

East Central fell behind when the Lady Warriors snapped a scoreless tie with a three spot in the top of the third. Corinth used four hits and an ECHS error to take the 3-0 lead.

East Central fought back a bit in the bottom of the fourth, when courtesy runner Jolie Wallace stole home to cut the deficit to 3-1. She was running for pitcher Breyona Tanner, who led off the inning with a walk.

But Corinth responded immediately to return its advantage to three, when Addyson Moore led the top of the fifth frame off with a solo home run to make it 4-1.

The Lady Warriors added an insurance run in the top of the seventh to end the scoring.

East Central should have known it faced a tough night at the plate when it noticed that Corinth’s starting pitcher was named Pounders. Lady Warrior junior hurler Callie Pounders tossed a two-hit, complete game to pick up the win in the circle. She struck out 12 and walked just two in a dominant performance.

Tanner also went the distance for East Central, but with far different results. She gave up 10 hits and all five runs in taking the loss, while striking out four and walking two.