DEMOPOLIS &8212; The Eufaula High School softball team ended the playoff hopes of Demopolis High School yesterday, winning two in a row in the first round of the state playoffs.

Though the DHS Lady Tigers were able to draw first blood in both match ups the EHS Lady Tigers battled back in both games to move ahead in their playoff hopes. DHS coach Joey Browder said he was happy of the performance of his team in both games and on the season, where they finished 18-18.

In the first game the DHS group scored its only point over halfway through the game. After two strikeouts in the bottom of the fourth inning, Brandi McGee was hit by a pitch from EHS pitcher India Karegay.

Sara Davis then got on base with a walk and was replaced by pinch runner Katie Jennings. What appeared like a routine ground out by Raven Simmons turned into the first points of the game when the ball went in and out of the glove of the EHS first baseman, allowed McGee to score, and Jennings and Simmons to move to second and third. A routine grounder ended the inning and left the runners stranded.

EHS countered in the top of the third and recorded their three points in the, 3-1, victory.

Dedra McElroy was hit by a pitch from Sara Davis, which was followed by a pop up out from Vanicka Williams. A bunt from Crystal Nolan

advanced the runner on first and found the batter safe at first and a second bunt from Ashley Braswell loaded the bases.

Hootie Richards struck out and an eager McElroy found herself in a run down situation. A deflected throw to third sped into the outfield allowing McElroy and Nolan to score. A throw to home plate also missed its mark allowing Braswell to cross the plate.

Paige Rowland struck out following the three runs ending the inning and scoring in the, 3-1, loss by DHS.

The DHS group scored early in the first inning of the second match up after Jasmine Simmons was batted in by a McGee single, after a single and stolen base of her own.

EHS wouldn&8217;t put points on the board until the bottom of the fourth, following a mishandled hit from Nolan that allowed McElroy and Becca Bonner to capitalize on their singles. A wild throw later in the inning off a single from Richards allowed Nolan in before the inning ended, 3-1, in EHS&8217; favor.

EHS picked up its final two runs an inning later after a walk put EHS on base and a double by Lindsey Defee allowed pinch runner Amber Peterson to run one in. A double two batters later by McElroy saw Defee score, 5-1.

DHS attempted a rally in the top of the seventh Corey Gross was walked then batted in by a triple from Jasmine Simmons. Simmons soon followed after a single from Stewart Gross and consecutive singles from Morgan Patterson and McGee loaded the bases. The rally ended with the next batter, who popped one out the left center field for the final out of the game.