Daily Leader / Jana Harp / Lawrence County’s Maddux Kirkland provides a big bat in the Lady Cougars doubleheader victory over Northeast Jones Thursday. Kirkland finished with a triple and three singles.

MONTICELLO – The Lawrence County Lady Cougars roared back to eliminate the Northeast Jones Lady Tigers in Class 4A state fastpitch softball action Thursday night.

The Lady Cougars defeated the Lady Tigers 10-5 in the second game and blasted Northeast Jones 13-0 in the third game to advance to the quarterfinals. Lawrence County lost the first game 2-1 at Laurel, Tuesday night.

The Lady Cougars (22-7), coached by Meleah Howard, will return to action Monday as they take on the winner of the North Pike/Pass Christian series. Game times and location have not set.

Lady Cougars 10, Lady Tigers 5

Lawrence County dominated the Lady Tigers in the first three innings of action to secure a 7-0 lead, before Northeast Jones plated a run in the top of the fifth inning.

The Lady Cougars would add to their lead in the sixth inning scoring three more runs to have a 10-1 advantage.

The Lady Tigers managed to push across four runs in the top of the seventh inning, but it wasn’t enough as Lawrence County secured the win.

Jordan Harp was the winning pitcher for the Lady Cougars with six strikeouts and two walks.

Julianna Johnson powered the Lady Cougars’ offense with three singles. Maddux Kirkland contributed a triple and a single. Josie Nations provided two singles. Zyon Feazell had a triple. Hitting safely were Callie Fortenberry, Sydney Pevey, Elizabeth Smith and Tyranesha Davis.

Lady Cougars 13, Lady Tigers 0

The Lady Cougars continued their offensive attack in the third game securing a 3-0 lead in the first three innings of action, before exploding with a 10 run blast in the fourth inning to secure the win in the five innings.

Jordan Harp collected the shut out victory on the rubber for Lawrence County with two strikeouts and no walks.

Amanda Rushing directed the Lady Cougars’ attack with two doubles and a single. Elizabeth Smith provided a double and two singles. Kirkland and Johnson contributed two singles. Pevey had a triple. Abbie Errington, Davis, Fortenberry and Nations finished with a single each.