The Vicksburg Missy Gators aren’t officially in the playoffs just yet, but they cleared an obstacle with emphasis on Tuesday.

The Missy Gators pounded out 17 hits — seven of their nine starters had more than one — as they ripped apart Ridgeland 18-2 at the Softball Swamp.

Trinity McGloster and Madisyn Kimble hit inside-the-park home runs to account for two of Vicksburg’s 12 extra base hits. Zion Harvey hit three doubles and finished 3-for-3 with four RBIs. Avery Van Norman doubled twice and scored three runs, and Camden McGloster was 2-for-2 with two doubles and two runs scored.

Kimble finished 2-for-3 with four RBIs. Makynzie Dunmore was 3-for-3 with a triple, two RBIs and two runs scored. The Missy Gators pounced on Ridgeland for 10 runs in the bottom of the first inning, added eight more in the second, and finished it via the mercy rule in the third.

Vicksburg (5-13, 2-3 MHSAA Region 2-6A) is tied with Ridgeland (4-10, 2-3) for third place in Region 2-6A, but swept the season series and thus owns the head-to-head tiebreaker. Both teams have three region games left.

Vicksburg plays a doubleheader at last-place Columbus (1-16, 0-6) Saturday at noon. It would officially clinch a playoff berth by winning at least one of those games. A sweep, combined with one more loss by Ridgeland, would give the Missy Gators the No. 3 seed.

Ridgeland hosts Warren Central on Thursday and plays Neshoba Central twice next week. Warren Central and Neshoba Central are the top two teams in the region.