RICHLAND – The North Pike Lady Jaguars bounced back to win games two and three Tuesday night to keep their softball alive by eliminating the Richland Lady Rangers in the opening round of the Class 4A state softball playoffs.

North Pike defeated Richland 6-1 in Game Two and 6-4 in Game Three. The Jaguars lost the opener to the Lady Rangers 8-3.

The Lady Jags (8-12) will advance to second round of the playoffs and host the Poplarville Lady Hornets Saturday. Game One of the best-of-three series begins at 1 p.m.

Richland 8, North Pike 3 

North Pike committed seven errors in Game One, which allowed the Lady Rangers to six unearned runs in one inning.

Whitley Howell pitched the loss for North Pike giving up 12 hits in a no strikeour and one walk performance.

Janay Maxwell, Linley Smith and Howell were the top hitters at the plate fr the Lady Jaguars with a single each.

North Pike 6, Richland 1 

The Lady Jags came out and took charge of Game Two as they scored three run in the first inning to take a early 3-0 lead. North Pike continued to increase their lead in the second and fourth innings to secure a 6-0.

Richland scored their only run in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Whitley Howell was the winning pitcher for the Lady Jags with one strikeouts and no walks. She allowed only six Richland hits.

Skye James powered North Pike’s offense with a double. Janay Maxwell, Whitley Howell, Baylee Bryant, Madison Bates, Mary Kate Bates and Brianna Rimes hit a single each

North Pike 6, Richland 4 

In Game Three, Richland captured an early 3-0 lead on the Lady Jaguars in the second inning, but North Pike answered with a four run surge in the top of the third inning to claim a 4-3 lead.

The Lady Rangers would tied the contest in bottom of the third inning after scoring one run.

North Pike and Richland would remain tied until the top of the seventh inning, when the Lady Jaguars managed to push across two runs to capture a 6-4 lead and relied on their tough defense to hold Richland scoreless in the bottom of the seventh inning to collect the win.

Howell collected her second win of the day for North Pike with one walk and no strikeouts.

Madison Bates and Howell paced the Lady Jaguars offense with two singles each. Baylee Bryant provided a double. Hitting safely were Janay Maxwell, Skye James and Ariel Johnson.