Softball | 4/30/2026 9:09:00 PM

HERNANDO -- The Clinton High School softball team fell to Hernando, 12-2, in five innings Thursday night in Game 1 of the best-of-three MHSAA Class 7A Second Roudn playoff series at Hernando High School.

The Lady Arrows showed early fight and briefly held the lead before Hernando used a decisive middle-inning stretch to seize control of the opener.

Hernando pushed across a run in the bottom of the first inning to take an early 1-0 advantage. Clinton answered in the sxecond when Madison Rhodes opened the inning with a triple and later scored on a bunt single by Anna Raines, who beat the throw to first base, tying the contest at 1-1.

Cailyn Willis later crossed the plate on a passed ball, giving the Lady Arrows a 2-1 lead.

Hernando answered in the bottom half of the inning with four runs to move back in front, 5-2. The Lady Tigers added six more runs in the fourth inning to stretch the margin to 11-2 before scoring the final run in the fifth to end the game by MHSAA mercy rule.

Rhodes, Raines, Presleigh Burrow, and Madison Nelson each recorded a hit for Clinton.

Nelson worked three innings in the circle, allowing six runs, none earned, on four hits. Burrow pitched one inning, surrendering six runs on four hits.

UP NEXT

The Lady Arrows will look to even the series in Game 2 on Saturday, May 2, at Clinton High School. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.

If necessary, Game 3 is slated for Monday, May 4, at HHS.