TUSCOLA — It took 12 innings in 107-degree temperatures to decide it, but the Merkel Lady Badgers managed to close out their 3A area round series with Breckenridge on Saturday, edging the Lady Buckaroos 4-2 at Jim Ned High School.
Josie Whitehead outdueled Chloe Whitmire in a intense contest that saw both pitchers work the full 12 innings. And Merkel’s Kyleigh Mauldin provided the game-winning RBIs with a two-run homer in the 12th to lead Merkel (25-2), which advances to face Coahoma in the Region I-3A quarterfinals.