By CURTIS ROCKWELL

Item Sports Editor

VANCLEAVE — For the second consecutive day, it took extra innings for Picayune and Vancleave to settle their Class 4A South State quarterfinal match-up.

And for the second straight time, the Maroon Tide prevailed.

Evan Nichelson and Jay Dedeaux drove in runs in the top of the ninth inning, as Picayune took a 7-5 decision over the homestanding Bulldogs to sweep the best of three series.

The Maroon Tide, now 20-3, will advance to the Class 4A South State semifinals and take on Lawrence County beginning Monday.

Vancleave, which dropped a 1-0 decision in 11 innings to Picayune on Thursday in game one, ends the season at 17-11.

“I’m just proud of the whole bunch,” Picayune head coach Cayne Stockstill said of his team after the win. “We just keep finding a way to win. Whatever it takes.”

Picayune sophomore Jonathan Hickman got his third straight win Friday night, earning the victory in relief of Bryce Ladner.

The Maroon Tide led 5-1 in the bottom of the seventh, only to see the Bulldogs storm back to tie the game at 5-5 and send the game into extra innings.

Jake Riser, Braxton Lee, Brandon Jurich and Garrett Williams all drove in runs for the Maroon Tide as well, and Jared Bales had a double.

A coin toss on Monday will decide which team has home field advantage in the next round. Lawrence County eliminated Wayne County on Saturday to move on, while East Central meets West Jones in the other semifinal.