Brookstone jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first round of the Class-A private school state playoffs, but it was all Mount Pisgah from there.

The Lady Patriots rallied to win game one 11-4, used a pair of homeruns to win game two 5-2 and clinched their second straight trip to the Class-A state championship tournament in Columbus.

“We may have been pressing in the first inning, but we’ve talked all year long about just enjoying the moment and playing like we are capable of,” said Mount Pisgah softball coach Haley Brooks. “These girls have put in so many hours of practice and lessons and are experienced in these pressure games.

“I think that experience drove their confidence and they played great [against Brookstone] because of it.”

Trailing 4-0 in game one, Pisgah used a five-run fifth inning to regain the lead. Madison Claytor had an RBI double in the fourth inning to stretch the lead to 6-4 and Morgan Walters blasted a two-run homerun to give Pisgah an 8-4 lead. Three more runs late brought on an 11-4 final.

The Lady Patriots totaled 16 hits in the game, led by three apiece from Courtney Condon and Madison Wickline. Claytor and Walters both had three RBI and Condon pitched a complete game in the circle — allowing four unearned runs and striking out seven in the victory.

Game two played out as more of a pitching dual with Jen Sapp twirling a gem for Pisgah.

Tied 2-2 after the first inning Sapp settled in to throw five straight scoreless frames for the Lady Pats. Walters and Condon then hit back-to-back home runs in the sixth inning to give Mount Pisgah some cushion and eventually a 5-2 victory.

“It’s great to see our seniors get a chance to do this again,” said Brooks after the game. “Now we have a chance to go back to Columbus with experience under our belt and I don’t think the nerves will affect us as much this time.”

A year ago Mount Pisgah finished fourth at the Columbus tournament. They will open this year’s tournament, which is played in an eight-team double-elimination format, tomorrow against Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy.

“I feel really good about our chances this year, especially with Jen starting to pitch well,” said Brooks. “She has come on so strong of late behind Courtney and having her experience is going to be huge for us.”