The Lafayette and Oxford softball teams started their respective seasons with both results in the Lady Charger Classic on Saturday at the OHS softball field.

Both teams lost their openers with Oxford falling 12-1 to South Pontotoc and Lafayette dropping a 7-3 decision to Olive Branch. The Commodores (1-1) came back with a 7-4 win over South Pontotoc in their final game of the four-team tournament.

In their second game of the day, Oxford defeated Olive Branch 4-3 for their first win of the season. DeDe Mathis hit a grand slam for the Chargers.

South Pontotoc scored 10 runs against Oxford (1-1) in the first two innings of the tournament’s opening game, using the help of 11 walks and more than four errors to keep a comfortable lead. Oxford’s lone run came on an RBI groundout by Elisha Webb in the third.

The Chargers finished with just three hits against Mackenzie Denton, who struck out three in the complete-game win. Kaytlon Pegues had a triple in the third.
Amber Pettis gave up three hits and struck out five in the loss.

Lafayette’s Cylie Robertson had two hits and drove in a run while Chloe Russell also had an RBI, but it wasn’t enough to overcome four errors leading to multiple unearned runs against Olive Branch.

The Commodores got a pair of runs in the top of the second inning to trim Olive Branch’s lead to 3-2, but the Conquistadors used an error and a two-run single from Danna Sullivan to plate three runs in the home half of the frame and swing the momentum for good.

Lauren Jean Rives and Madisyn Cobbs both got work in the circle for the Commodores. Rives took the loss after allowing six runs (three unearned) in the first two innings before Cobbs surrendered a run on three hits over the last two frames.

Russell had two RBIs in the win over South Pontotoc.

Oxford will stay home Monday to take on Myrtle at 6 p.m. Lafayette will host West Union on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.