The difference between going home or moving on was just a couple plays in the MHSAA 2A softball quarterfinal matchup between Puckett High and Loyd Star.

On Monday in front of a packed Jan Delaughter Field at Loyd Star, the visiting Wolves from Rankin County made the needed plays to get a 3-1 win that clinched the series, two games to one, over the Hornets.

Second-year Loyd Star coach John Smith and his team ended the season with a 22-8 record. Smith is assisted by Kaylin Lofton and Catherine Wilson.

It was the second-straight year for Puckett to eliminate the Hornets, as last season the Wolves swept LS in the second round with 3-2 and 5-4 wins.

This time things were closer, with Puckett taking game one 4-2, before Loyd Star was able to extend the series with a 4-1 road win on Saturday that had been pushed back due to rain.

Smith says his team has improved over the last year and with just a few seniors on the roster, the hope is for that growth to continue.

“We’ve matured this year and learned how to take accountability for our mistakes and pick up our teammates when they get down on themselves,” said Smith. “Even though we only lost one starter last year, we moved some kids around and had three new infielders. We won’t have a senior on the team next year so we should be very competitive in the future if we can keep everyone healthy.”

The Hornet fans ringing the field on Monday had lots to cheer about early, as sophomore Layla Burt drilled a double in the bottom of the first that scored Adi Holcomb to put LS ahead 1-0.

In the pitching circle, Burt gave up just four hits, as none of the runs scored on her were of the earned variety. She struck out five and walked one.

Burt was her typical lights-out self on Saturday in game two, striking out nine, walking one, and giving up just three hits.

“As long as we have Layla Burt in the circle, we’ll always have a chance,” said Smith. “She finished 18-6 and had a 1.38 ERA, but it should have been lower. Of the 62 runs scored against her, only 32 were earned. The most impressive stat from this season to me is her only having 24 walks in 162 innings pitched.”

Puckett freshman ace Lila Murphy struck out four and gave up five hits on Monday. The Wolves (23-7) move on to face their county rivals from Pisgah (24-8) in the 2A semifinals.

Outfielder Xia Townsend, shortstop Madison McKinzie, and first baseman Ainsley Gennaro were the three senior starters on Monday for Loyd Star in the loss.

“We’re going to miss our seniors, but we’ve got a few young girls that have been chomping at the bit to get some varsity time,” said Smith. “Some of them got quality innings of varsity action this season to get them ready for next year.”

Other starters for Loyd Star on Monday included freshman infielder Kenzie Kay Lofton, sophomore catcher Kaylin Hester, sophomore outfielder Maddie Kate Britt, eighth grade infielder Chaney Williford, and sophomore outfielder Adi Holcomb.

Holcomb, Lofton, and Williford all hit safely in the loss, with Williford slugging a double. Britt smashed a home run on Saturday in the game two win while Hester had a pair of hits from her leadoff spot.

“The third and fourth innings haunted us all year defensively and in games like this one, it was too much for us to overcome,” said Smith. “It felt like we beat ourselves and that’s going to haunt us, but it should also push us to get back to work and to get better.”