Picayune beat arch-rival Pearl River Central for the second time in just over a week, as Jessie Frierson tossed a four hit shutout and the Lady Tide rolled to an 8-0 win on Thursday.

Picayune exploded for 13 hits and scored 8 runs to earn the win in a critical Region 6-5A contest The win put the Lady Tide back into playoff contention. PRC was coming off an upset win over Stone County on Tuesday.

“It was a big win for us, considering the win they had over Stone,” veteran Picayune head coach Kristi Mitchell said. “It puts us in a little bit better of a situation.”

Several Lady Tide players had multiple hits including Bethany Crawford with four, Sarah Dodd with three and Tiffany Devore with two hits.

The Tide scored early in the game as Tiffany Devore came up with a two out single to score Bethany Crawford from third who singled and moved to third on a hit off the bat of Dickens.

Sarah Dodd and Shalyn Stevens hit back to back singles to start the 2nd and Jessica Rancifer executed a perfect sac bunt to move both runners into scoring position.  Sarah Dodd scored one pitch later on a pass ball.  One out later Bethany Crawford hit for the second time to score Stevens.

With two outs in the third Sarah Dodd hits a RBI single to score Tiffany Devore who hit a stand up double that just missed clearing the left field fence.

Millie Gill reached in the 4th on a sharp single to 3rd that got by the fielder and moved to 3rd on a Crawford’s third single of the game.  Brooke Ladner hit a deep fly ball for a sac that plated Gill.

Jessica Rancifer executed her second sac bunt of the night after Dodd singled and Stevens was HBP.  Millie Gill then doubled to score Dodd and Stevens.  Crawford followed with a single to plate Gill to round out the scoring.

The Tide defense allowed only 4 hits behind the pitching of Jessie Frierson who walked 2 and hit one batter.

• On Friday, Picayune beat Bay High 11-4.

Hillary Dickens got the win allowing 3 hits.

The Tide manufactured 12 hits to score 11 runs in the non division contest. Multiple hitters included Millie Gill, Hillary Dickens, Sarah Dodd, and Brooke Ladner.   

The Tide will travel to Long Beach Monday for a non division contest that will be played JV at 11:00 and Varsity at 12:30.

The Tide will host Stone Tuesday in a key division match up that could determine who gets the number 2 seed behind Wayne County.