Brookhaven’s Katherine Shell’s walk-off solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning helped the Lady Panthers defeat the Bogue Chitto Lady Cats 5-4 Tuesday night in slowpitch softball action at Brookhaven’s Softball Complex.

“Both teams played really well offensively and defensively,” said BHS coach Mandy Vinson. “Katherine Shell’s big hit in the bottom of the eighth inning helped us collect the win. Overall, I was very pleased with my girls’ effort. We showed great leadership tonight and kept our heads in the game.”

The Lady Panthers (6-1) will continue action Thursday as they host the Wingfield Lady Falcons for a big division test. Varsity action is set to begin at 5 p.m.

The Lady Cats (4-2) will resume action Saturday as they participate in Wesson’s softball tournament. BC battles Clinton at 1:50 p.m., Franklin County at 3:10 and Wesson at 5:50 p.m.

Brookhaven 5, Bogue Chitto 4 

Brookhaven and Bogue Chitto’s softball fans witnessed a thrilling offensive and defensive contest as both teams came out swinging.

The Lady Panthers captured an early 1-0 lead in the first inning, but the Lady Cats fought back to tie the game at 1-all in the top of the second inning.

Both teams traded a pair of two-run home runs in the third inning as BC’s Terrah Nelson and BHS Fallon Brooks connected to keep the game tied at 3-all.

In the top of the fifth inning, Christian Black smashed a solo home run to give her Lady Cats a 4-3 lead, but BHS first baseman Katherine Shell’s solo home run in the bottom of the fifth inning would tied the game at 4-all. The contest would remain tied at the end of regulation to force extra innings.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shell would help her Lady Panthers clinch the win over BC with a walk-off solo home run.

Rileigh Allen was the winning pitcher for Brookhaven with no strikeouts and no walks.

Brooke Myers suffered the setback on the mound for BC with one strikeout and no walks.

Shell powered the Panthers’ offensive attack with a pair of solo home runs and a single. Fallon Brook contributed a two-run home run. Cheyenne Motley had two singles. Hitting safely were Haley Speaks, Madison Thompson and Tia Bussey.

Christian Black directed the Lady Cats at the plate with a home run and two singles. Terrah Nelson provided a two-run home run and a single. Zariah Matthews, Codi Leggett, Baileigh Jackson and Reagan Kirkland hit safely.

“This was a good game overall,” said BC coach Scott Leggett. “It came down to who would get the big hit at the end. We had our opportunities to get the win, but Brookhaven did a good job fighting back.”

In junior varsity action,  Brookhaven and Bogue Chitto finished in a 3-3 tie.

Kyla Henderson (2K, 1BB) pitched for Brookhaven and Stevie Montgomery (5K, 2BB) tossed for Bogue Chitto.

Henderson led the Lady Panthers at the plate with a home run and a double. Maddie Miller, TiMayia Cooper and Meg Foster hit safely.

Lineka Newsom paced the Lady Cats’ offense with a double. Hitting safely were Kylie Chapman, Destiny Wallace and Montgomery.