By Curtis Rockwell/Sports Director

HATTIESBURG — Hernando won its second state softball title in five years here Friday afternoon.

And, unfortunately, the latest one came at the expense of Ocean Springs.

The Lady Tigers snatched victory out of the jaws of defeat, scoring five runs in the bottom of the sixth stanza to pull out a 9-7 comeback win over the Lady Greyhounds here at the University of Southern Mississippi Softball Complex. The decision came in the third and final game of the Class 7A state finals.

The appearance in the state finals was the fifth in six seasons for HHS, while OSHS was playing in it’s first-ever fast-pitch state title series.

The two teams battled back and forth like the best two teams in the largest classification in the state, with five different lead changes throughout the contest.

Ocean Springs seemed to be in prime positiom to take the title, after rallying for five runs in the top of the sixth to overcome a 4-2 deficit and grab a 7-4 lead. Taylor Farra’s two-run single was the big blow in the eruption, and made it 7-4.

However, Hernando acted like it had been here before, and responded with a five spot of their own in the decisive bottom of the inning. The Lady Tigers broke out the long ball in doing so, as Jayla Sites smacked a two-run home run and Gracie Higginbottham followed with a solo shot.

Lady Tiger pitcher Madeline Sowell then went to the circle and set down OSHS in order in the top of the seventh.

Olivia Phillips worked the first six stanzas to earn the win for HHS, while Sowell, who turned in complete game performances in both a game one win and a game two loss, then earned the save with that perfect final frame.

Emma Franklin went the distance in the circle to take the loss for OSHS.

K’Lee Gum had two hits offensively for OSHS, and Gracie Shepherd’s solo home run in the fourth tied the game up at 2-2.

Sites and Kaleigh Gentry had two hits apiece for HHS, and Sites posted a game-high three RBIs.

Hernando finishes the season an impressive 32-5 overall, while OSHS ends up at 28-9