How Northwest Rankin softball finished with undefeated season, MHSAA Class 7A state title

HATTIESBURG — Northwest Rankin softball was one strike away from its first loss of the season Wednesday night in Game 1 of the MHSAA Class 7A state championship .

It trailed Hernando 4-0 entering the bottom of the seventh inning until rallying for five runs and a walk-off victory.

And then with a 6-3 win in Game 2 on Thursday night at the Southern Miss Softball Complex, Northwest Rankin (34-0) completed its undefeated season with the 7A championship.

But while Northwest Rankin — which won the 6A title last season — ends the season with no losses, it also had no celebration because inclement weather cut off the game early.

Northwest Rankin had blown the game open in the top of the sixth inning with six runs to take a 12-3 lead. But in the middle of the inning, the game was put into a weather delay before ultimately being called. Because Hernando (27-9) did not have a chance to bat in the bottom of the sixth, the Cougars' six runs were nullified to revert the final score to 6-3.

Hernando and Northwest Rankin were tied at 1-1 through two innings until the Cougars scored five runs in the third to take a 6-1 lead.

Hernando scored twice in the bottom of the third and might have scored more had it not been for a remarkable sequence of defensive plays.

With runners at first and second base, Hernando center fielder Madison York doubled and scored the runner from second base. The runner at first base also tried to score but was tagged out by the catcher in a superb relay while York advanced to third.

On the very next pitch, Hernando shortstop Jayla Sites lined out to Northwest Rankin shortstop Brooke Smith, who threw back to third base for an inning-ending double play.

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Hernando threatened to score in the fifth inning when Northwest Rankin made a pitching change and turned to Jolie Hays, the 2023 Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year, a two-time Miss Softball winner and a Southern Miss signee.

The first three batters she faced reached base, loading the bases with no outs. But Hays escaped, inducing three straight outs with a strikeout, a shallow fly and a fielder’s choice.

Sam Sklar is the Southern Miss beat reporter for the Hattiesburg American. Email him at ssklar@hattiesb.gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.

This article originally appeared on Hattiesburg American: How Northwest Rankin softball finished with undefeated season, MHSAA Class 7A state title