Purvis has shown no signs of slowing down.
The Lady Tornadoes extended their win streak to 20 straight games after defeating Poplarville 10-3 in Game 1 of the Class 4A South State Championship series on Wednesday.
"It seems like we are continuing to do things that we need to do," Purvis coach Lindsay Robertson said. "We did a real good job of situational hitting tonight. We were moving runners over and then scoring them on timely hits. That was another thing that I think this team did well tonight, and with baserunning."
Purvis (27-6) held on to a 2-0 lead after Lily Reynolds drove in a run with a sac fly in the first inning and later an RBI single by Jadie Byrd.
The Lady Tornadoes broke the game open with five runs in the fifth inning. Allee Williamson delivered a three-run triple followed by an RBI single from Brooxie Shepherd. Aubrey Easley later hit an RBI double with one out, with the inning capped off by Byrd driving in her second run off a fielder's choice.
Reynolds hit another RBI double in the sixth inning before Purvis tacked on two more runs in the seventh.
"(The hitters) know what adjustments they have to make at the plate," Robertson said. "They have seen these pitchers before."
In the circle, Chelsea Regan pitched a shutout heading into the bottom of the seventh. However, Poplarville (19-10-1) found life with back-to-back RBI doubles, which proved to be too little, too late.
Regan completed the game and allowed three runs off eight hits and three walks while striking out six batters.
A win tomorrow for Purvis will advance the Lady Tornadoes to their second straight state championship. Purvis will host Poplarville at 6 p.m. on Thursday night.
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