The Brookhaven Lady Panthers and the George County Lady Rebels came swinging for the fences Thursday night as both teams combined for 28 home runs in the opening round of the Class 5A-6A state softball playoffs at Ole Brook’s softball complex. At the end of the night, the Lady Rebels managed to escape Brookhaven with the series victory to end the Lady Panthers’ season.

In Game One, George County defeated Brookhaven 20-9. In Game Two, the Lady Panthers charged back to win 17-12 to tie the series. In the final game, the Lady Rebel held off Brookhaven’s seventh-inning rally to win 12-8.

“I was very pleased with my girls’ efforts, we left it all on the field,” said BHS coach Mandy Vinson. “We never gave up and we kept fighting until the very end. Cheyenne Motley did a great job on the mound for us in all three games. I hate that our season had to come to an end, especially for our seniors. They have worked hard to get us here and they will be missed.”

The Lady Panthers finished the season with a 20-10 record overall.

George Co. 20, BHS 9 

Taylor Hultz was the winning pitcher for the Lady Rebels with one strikeout and one walk in a five-inning contest.

Cheyenne Motley suffered the setback for Brookhaven with no strikeouts and three walks.

Jada Henderson powered the Lady Panthers’ offense with three home runs. She hit a three-run, two-run and a solo home run in three at bats. Katherine Shell hit a home run and a single. Haley Speaks belted a home run. Fallon Brooks contributed a double and a single. Hitting safely were Jadeyn Fuller, Tia Bussey and Motley.

Ariel Touchard led the Lady Rebels with a home run, a double and a single. Neely McLeod had a home run and two singles. Ramey Cochran contributed two home runs and a single. Kaitlyn Passeau, Saige Brewer, Brooklyn Day and Kalee Radcliff provided a home run and a single each. Hults hit a home run, Megan Morese had two singles and Anna Adams hit a single.

BHS 17, George Co. 12 

In Game Two, Brookhaven rallied back to tie the series as Motley tossed the victory with no strikeouts and three walks.

Hultz took the loss on the mound for the Lady Rebels with two strikeouts and nine walks.

Fallon Brooks led the offensive explosion with two home runs and two singles. Brooks hit a grand slam home run in the seventh inning. Shell provided a pair of home runs. Henderson ripped a home run and a double. Macy Ziskin contributed a home run and a single. Kat Wallace and Bussey had a double and a single each, and Speaks hit a double. Hitting safely were Motley and Fuller.

Touchard directed the Lady Rebels at the plate with a home run and a single. McLeod blasted two home runs. Passeau ripped three singles. Radcliff had two singles. Cochran provided a double. Hannah Rasberry, Adams and Hultz hit a single each.

George Co. 12, BHS 8 

In the final game, both teams fought in a close game, until the last four innings when the Lady Rebels pushed their lead to 12-4.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Lady Panthers threatened to rally back as they plated four runs but could not overcome George County’s lead.

Hultz (0K, 2BB) pitched the win for the Lady Rebels.

Motley absorbed the setback for the Lady Panthers with one strikeout and one walk.

Shell paced the Lady Panthers’ offense with two home runs. Ziskin and Brooks provided three singles each. Henderson had two singles. Madison Thompson and Rileigh Allen hit safely.

Morse directed the Lady Rebels with a home run and two doubles. Rasberry provided a home run and two singles. Passeau hit a home run and a single. Brewer and Touchard contributed a double and a single each. McLeod, Radcliff and Hultz had two singles each. Cochran hit safely.