Aggies rebound to force Game 3 in 3A finals

HATTIESBURG – Kossuth got its offensive groove back Thursday morning.

One day after being shut out and getting only three hits, the Aggies exploded for 16 hits and walloped West Marion 11-1 in six innings to even the MHSAA Class 3A state title series at Southern Miss. The decisive Game 3 is set for 10 a.m. Friday.

There was no panic among the Aggies after Wednesday’s 3-0 loss. The same situation happened in Game 1 of the North finals, when Kossuth was shut out by Nettleton.

“We put ourselves in a hole last series, and we knew we could (come back),” senior Chloe Clement said. “We can do it again tomorrow, too. … We always put ourselves in holes, but we dig ourselves out so good for some reason.”

Clement led the onslaught with four hits and three RBIs. Madeline Rhodes had two hits and four RBIs, and five Aggies total had multiple hits.

Kossuth (25-7) fell behind 1-0 in the first inning but found its swing in the second. Alana Lewis had a run-scoring single, and Rhodes drove in two as part of a four-run outburst. Carsyn Rinehart’s RBI single in the fourth made it 5-1, and then in the fifth, both Clement and Rhodes had two-run singles to make it 9-1.

“We made the right adjustments at the plate, hit the ball the other way some and just started squaring the ball up, hitting it where they wasn’t,” Kossuth head coach Brandon Bobo said.

Clement also had a big day in the pitcher’s circle. She allowed just one hit, and after yielding the one run to West Marion (26-10), she retired 13 of the next 14 batters. She’s allowed just three hits all series.

“Same thing I’ve seen from Chloe for the last three years. She gives you everything she’s got on that mound, and we’re right behind her making plays behind her,” Bobo said.

Center fielder Emma Franks had a busy day, with five putouts.

“I love our defense,” Clement said. “As a pitcher in the circle, it’s very, very, very nice having some defense behind you.”

Extra Bases

Big Inning: Kossuth collected five hits in the four-run second.

Big Stat: Eight of the Aggies’ runs came with two outs.

Coach Speak: “Like I told them last week, I’ll take this team with their back against the wall any day.” – Bobo