DEMOPOLIS &045; After squeaking out a 2-1 victory in the series opener, the Tigers utilized the long ball to beat Bibb County 8-0 in the follow-up and move to the next round of the state playoffs.

Demopolis&8217; offensive outburst in the series finale was anchored by Devin Latham. The senior catcher pieced together a 3-for-4 game that included two home runs, a double, three RBIs and four runs.

Latham&8217;s first blast came in the top of the first inning when she stroked a two-run shot that plated fellow senior Jasmine Simmons. That swing of the bat gave Demopolis the 2-0 lead.

Latham opened the third inning by hitting one up the middle. The Bibb County shortstop made a play for the ball but was unable to field it cleanly, allowing Latham to reach safely. After advancing to second on a groundout, she scored on a Kathleen Randall single.

The Tigers padded the lead in the fifth inning when Latham leadoff with a double, scoring on a Sara Davis single. After Jordon Cramer entered to pinch run for Davis, senior Brandi McGee belted a round-tripper over the left-centerfield fence to push the lead to 6-0.

Latham did her final bit of damage in the seventh when she started the inning with her second homerun of the game. Davis followed with a single. Cramer again entered to run for the pitcher, scoring on an RBI groundout by Randall.

The sixth inning proved the trouble spot for the Tigers in the contest. The Choctaws&8217; leadoff batter reached on an error before a walk and a single subsequently loaded the bases with no outs.

With Demopolis&8217; six-run lead suddenly appearing in jeopardy, Davis struck out each of the next three hitters to end the BCHS threat.

Davis struck out nine batters, allowing only two hits and issuing just one walk through seven innings to get her second win of the day.

The senior hurler used only 44 pitches to get the game one win, striking out three and surrendering only one hit in that contest. Her only walk led to Bibb&8217;s only run of the game in the top of the first.

Demopolis stayed on the short side of that 1-0 margin for more than five innings, flipping the scoreboard in the sixth inning when Simmons reached on an error before a Latham single and another Choctaw miscue allowed her to tie the game. Latham scored the game&8217;s go-ahead run on a McGee single.

The Tigers will host 5A&8217;s No. 5 team, Mobile-based St. Paul&8217;s, Saturday in Sub-State 2. Saints&8217; pitcher Allie Pruitt twirled a no-hitter in game one against Eufaula Tuesday.