SOUTH MISS 6 SPORTS

May 14, 2026

Prep Softball: Lady Greyhounds force game 3 with 4-2 win over Lady Tigers Thursday

Ocean Springs batter Emma Franklin puts the ball in play vs. Hernando Thursday afternoon. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

By Curtis Rockwell/Sports Director

HATTIESBURG — And it all comes down to this.

Well, as far as the Class 7A state softball championship in the state of Mississippi is concerned.

Ocean Springs forced a third and deciding game with a 4-2 win over Hernando here Thursday afternoon at the University of Southern Mississippi Softball Complex. The decision knots the best-of-three series for the state title in the largest classification in the state up at one game apiece.

Ocean Springs batter K’Lee Gum makes contact with the pitch vs. Hernando Thursday afternoon. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Ocean Springs outfielder Addison Johnson tracks down a fly ball vs. Hernando Thursday afternoon. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Ocean Springs base runner Zori Terry gets tripped up as Hernando infielder Callie Desmond grabs the ball Thursday afternoon. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

The 2026 state championship will be decided when these two teams reconvene here at this same venue for the third straight day Friday afternoon at 2:30 p.m.

“We didn’t play our ball in Game one, so we were due to come out here like we did. “OSHS veteran head coach Lindsay Linton said. “First day, scheduling and things like that, we didn’t know how it all works. So it was a little stressful. But today knew what was going on, what was needed, and I knew they were going to show up, and they did. And I’m so poroud of them.”

Ocean Springs jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the top of the first frame, thanks in large part to RBI-singles from both Emma Franklin and Taylor Farra.

Hernando responded with single runs in both the second and third frames.

Ocean Springs pitcher Emma Franklin takes aim on home plate vs. Hernando Thursday afternoon. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Ocean Springs infielder Dakota Raynore reaches out for a throw as a Hernando base runner pulls into second Thursday afternoon. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Things stayed that way until there were two outs in the top of the sixth stanza, when OSHS doubled its lead to the final count of 4-2 on an run-scoring infield single by Farra.

“That was huge, really huge for us,” Linton added. “Also, the umpire behind the plate was amazing. We’re a disciplined team , and that was a huge difference for us, because that took away those pitches that were not strikes that were being called in Game 1.

Franklin, after suffering the loss with four frames of work in the opener, bounced back to go the distance in game two in the circle to earn the win, scattering two hits with seven strike outs. She retired the final nine HHS batters she faced in order.

Ocean Springs batter K’Lee Gum slaps a ball into the infield vs. Hernando Thursday afternoon. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Ocean Springs batter Kerrigan Scott makes contact with the pitch vs. Hernando Thursday afternoon. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Ocean Springs batter Taylor Farra puts the ball in play vs. Hernando Thursday afternoon. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

“I pulled her early yesterday, and this is exactly why.” Linton added. “She’s made for games like this.”

Farra, Franklin, K’Lee Gum and Kerrigan Scott each had two hits apiece to pace OSHS on offense.

Madeline Sowell also tossed a complete game to take the loss for the Lady Tigers.

Ocean Springs is 28-8 overall, while Hernando is 31-5.

Ocean Springs outfielder Taylor Farra settles under a fly ball vs. Hernando Thursday afternoon. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Ocean Springs head coach Lindsay Linton has a word with Lady Greyhound base runner Kerrigan Scot vs. Hernando Thursday afternoon. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)