Vikings fall to Neshoba Central in 11-inning thriller

Published 10:56 pm Friday, March 29, 2024

For the second straight game, Warren Central and Neshoba Central went to extra innings.

This time, though, the outcome did not go the Vikings’ way.

Neshoba Central’s R.B. Hardin scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the 11th inning, finally breaking a long-running deadlock and giving the Rockets a 3-2 victory Friday night.

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Warren Central won 3-2 in eight innings Tuesday when the teams played in Vicksburg.

On Friday, the Vikings scored twice in the top of the first inning on a two-run double by Maddox Lynch and then not again. Neshoba Central tied it in the fifth with a two-run triple by Jordan Davis, and the rest of the game belonged to the pitchers.

For Warren Central (6-8, 1-1 MHSAA Region 2-6A), Lynch went seven innings, Nathaniel Moore threw two scoreless frames, and Cade Fairley worked the last 1 1/3. Lynch had eight strikeouts.

Neshoba Central’s Sanders Griffis had 14 strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings, then J.P. Hancock pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings with five strikeouts.

Neshoba (11-4, 1-1) ended the stalemate in the 11th by manufacturing the winning run. Hardin was hit by a pitch leading off the inning, then stole second and went to third on a throwing error. He then scored on the wild pitch to give the Rockets the 3-2 victory.

Warren Central will have a quick turnaround for its next game. It hosts Raymond Saturday at 1 p.m. at Viking Field.