Wicksburg may have bested the Pike County on Thursday, but head coach Fawn Sims believes the Bulldogs played one of their most competitive games of the year.

“We played a really good ball game,” Sims said. “We made a couple mistakes and they had some hits in the gaps, but overall I am not disappointed with how we played … we didn’t lose because of lack of effort. We went up there fighting a lot more than we have been. This was the strongest fight we had in us this season.”

The Bulldogs and Panthers met earlier this year, and the Panthers won 15-0 in three innings. On Thursday, the Bulldogs briefly led before losing 8-2.

“Wicksburg is a very solid defensive and hitting team,” Sims said. “We made a huge turnaround being able to to play seven innings and hold a lead.”

The Bulldogs scored the first two runs of the game on a two-run push bunt by Aubrey Maulden to score both Destiny Flournoy, who reached via the walk, and Senkethia Thompson.

Thompson got the start for the Bulldogs and pitched the first five innings for the Bulldogs before giving way to Maulden who pitched the final two innings. Both pitchers combined to strike out 13 Panther hitters.

“The looked a lot better than we have been,” Sims said. “We are definitely showing progress and at this point of the season we should be.”

After weather cancelled practice this week, Sims was impressed with the fight and intensity her team showed.

“Today in the first couple of innings we looked to attack early,” Sims said. “We executed small ball and we really looked to jump ahead. On Tuesday we made way too many mistakes. Tonight we made mistakes, but it was nearly as much. That is what we have been working on.”

The Bulldogs will return home on Monday to play Houston Academy at 4:30 p.m.