DAILY LEADER / TERESA ALLRED / West Lincoln catcher Hanna Moak (right) applies the tag on the Bay Springs runner Rashana Jones at home plate for the out Tuesday night.

The West Lincoln Lady Bears managed to overcome two extra inning games to sweep the Bay Springs Lady Bulldogs Tuesday night in the opening round of a best-of-three series in Class 2A slowpitch softball state playoff action.

In Game One, the Lady Bears fought hard to edge the Lady Bulldogs 8-7 in eight innings of action. In Game Two, West Lincoln and Bay Springs battled to another eight-inning marathon and the Lady Bears prevail 10-6.

“We did not play very well defensively,” said West Lincoln coach Andrew Redd. “Our defense has carried us all season and we need to get back at the level to keep advancing in the playoffs. Overall, I was proud of the girls. They kept battling through this tough contest and fought a way to win.”

West Lincoln (21-5-1) will advance to the second round Saturday. The Lady Bears visit East Webster. Game times have not been set at press time.

W. Lincoln 8, Bay Springs 7 

The Lady Bulldogs (12-7) came out strong in the opener and took a 3-0 lead in the first inning.

The Lady Bears answered in the second and third innings to claim a 7-3 lead. Bay Springs fought to tie the game at seven-all in the fifth inning.

Both teams went scoreless through the rest of the contest, until the bottom of the eighth inning. West Lincoln’s Micah Redd started the inning with a single and advance to third when Bentley Sills ripped a double with no outs. The Lady Bulldogs elected to load the bases to have a force at every base and gain two quick outs, before Millane Lewis hit a fielder choice for the Lady Bears to send home Redd for the winning run.

Heather Moak was the winning pitcher for West Lincoln with no strikeouts and no walks.

Erykah Walker suffered the loss for Bay Springs with no strikeouts and two walks.

Micah Redd was the offensive leader for the Lady Bears with three singles. Alli Mullins contributed two singles. Hitting safely were Layton Sills, Hanna Moak, Destiny Allen, Bentley Sills and Karley Smith.

Shalinoa Holliday paced the Lady Bulldogs at the plate with three singles. Zoey Keyes, Amanda Agee and Keela Jones provided a pair of singles. Alissa Jones had a double and a single. Alexus Jones, Semaj Lee, Rashana Jones and Walker hit safely.

“We were out played,” said Bay Springs coach Makisha Keyes. “This was a tough contest for both teams. We just did not make the big plays on defense to get the outs when we needed.”

W. Lincoln 10, Bay Springs 6 

Both teams continued their strong defensive bout as the Lady Bulldogs and Lady Bears secured a 5-all tie in three innings of action.

Bay Springs captured a 6-5 lead in the fifth inning, before West Lincoln managed to tie the contest at 6-all in the seventh inning to force extra innings.

In the eighth inning, the Lady Bears exploded for four runs to secure a 10-6 lead and of hold the Lady Bulldogs in the bottom of the eighth inning for the victory.

Heather Moak tossed the win for West Lincoln with one strikeout and one walk.

Walker absorbed her second straight loss on the night for Bay Springs with no strikeouts and one walk.

Micah Redd provided the offensive charge to lead the Lady Bears with a double and two singles. Peyton White contributed three singles. Hanna Moak helped with a double and a single. Bentley Sills had two singles. Destiny Allen doubled. Hitting safely were Layton Sills, Heather Moak, Malori Hall, Alli Mullins and Anna Brooke Davis.

Holliday directed the Bay Springs offense with a double and two singles. Keela Jones provided two doubles and a single. Alissa Jones had two singles. Walker ripped a double. Mya Carter, Rashana Jones, Lee, Agee and Keyes hit safely.