Demopolis Middle School’s early lead faded quickly as Hale County Junior High downed the Lady Tigers 18-6 Friday night.

Demopolis hung two runs on the board in the home half of the first to take a 2-0 advantage before allowing 13 batters to step to the plate in the top of the second inning.

“Pitching was struggling in practice this week, so we had to make some changes and it struggled in the game,” DMS head coach Charles Jones said.

The Lady Tigers’ pitching struggled to find the strike zone and the defense scuffled to make plays as Hale County scored seven runs in the top of the second and added four more in the top of the third inning to open up an 11-2 lead.

Seventh grader Rachel Smith entered the game in the top of the third inning, inheriting a bases-loaded situation with no outs recorded. Smith appeared poised to wriggle off the hook with little to no damage before an infield error extended the frame and allowed Hale County to continue its onslaught.

“The fact that they hadn’t played in over a week,” Jones said, attempting to explain the shaky quality of his team’s play before tapering off. Ultimately, Jones found himself dumbfounded at the 12-run setback.

“It just shouldn’t happen,” he said of the blowout.

Demopolis attempted to mount a comeback in the home half of the third when it scored four runs, highlighted by a Shadeitra White triple.

But as Demopolis seemed ready to put one foot in front of the other, it could scarcely stay out of its own way. The Lady Tigers allowed six more runs in the top of the fourth and another in the fifth to go down by the 10-run rule after a fruitless bottom half of the final frame.

The Lady Tigers allowed 18 runs despite only surrendering two hits. Demopolis pitchers walked 10 batters while the defense committed four errors.

Smith worked three innings, struck out three and gave up only one hit and one earned run despite the 11-run outburst that occurred while she was in the game.

Zarquashia Taylor went 1-for-2 with two runs scored in the game.

Cameron Thomason was 2-for-3 with two runs scored. White was 1-for-2 with a triple.

Nicole Wilkerson was 1-for-3. Smith and Ebony Moore each scored a run. Holly Gandy drew a walk.

The biggest challenge now facing the Lady Tigers is leaving Friday’s loss behind as they travel to Moundville Saturday to face Hale County again.

“You tell them to go in, play their game and pump them up,” Jones said. “I think it will be a different game (Saturday).”