The Vicksburg Missy Gators are saving some of their best softball for when it matters most. Now they just need to do it one more time.

The Missy Gators scored six runs in the top of the sixth inning Friday to beat Grenada 8-6 in Game 1 of an MHSAA Class 6A softball series at the Softball Swamp.

Grenada won 7-3 in Game 2 — the two games were played as a doubleheader at VHS because of wet field conditions in Grenada — to set up a winner-take-all showdown. Game 3 will be Monday at 5 p.m. at Grenada.

The Missy Gators (6-12) are 4-2 in their last six games and pulled off a big comeback to win Game 1 of the best-of-three series on Friday.

The Missy Gators trailed 6-2 entering the sixth inning and had their first two batters retired. Makynzie Dunmore then singled and three straight batters walked to force in a run. Senior Avery Van Norman followed with a double to center field to clear the bases and tie it 6-6.

After two more walks, Harmony Harris hit another double to bring in two runs and put the Missy Gators ahead 8-6. In all, seven consecutive batters reached base during the rally.

VHS pitcher Lili Kistler worked around a couple of hits in the last two innings to preserve the victory.

Harris finished 2-for-4 with four RBIs, Van Norman had three RBIs, and Dunmore was 3-for-4 with one run scored. Shandrea Lockridge was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored.

After winning Game 1, the Missy Gators couldn’t quite sustain their momentum in Game 2. They left runners on base in every inning, fell behind 5-1 after two innings, and lost 7-3 as the series was evened at a game apiece.

Vicksburg scored twice in the bottom of the seventh, on an RBI single by Zion Harvey and an RBI ground out by Trinity McGloster, but couldn’t get any more.

Lockridge finished 2-for-4 and scored a run, Van Norman reached base twice and scored twice, and McGloster doubled and drove in two runs. Harvey singled, walked twice and had one RBI.

Grenada’s AC Poynor walked twice, had one RBI and scored a run. Lillian Mattox hit an RBI double.