Jackets Post Pair of Wins On The Weekend
February 23, 2026
STARKVILLE - Starkville wrapped up a busy weekend on Yellow Jacket Field at Carlisle Stadium with a pair of wins over New Hope and South Panola.
The Jackets opened the weekend with a 7-4 win over the Trojans on Friday night before concluding Saturday's action with an 11-1 win over the Tigers. SHS dropped a 6-1 decision to Tupelo in the first action of the day on Saturday.
In Friday's win, the Jackets plated runs in each of the first four innings to take a 7-1 lead. Sophomore Marcus Hendrix II highlighted the offense with a big night at the plate. Hendrix collected three hits in three at bats, He singled in the second inning, doubled in the fourth inning and doubled in the sixth inning.
The Jackets took the lead in the first inning after Tyson Knox hit a sacrifice fly and Cooper Anthony walked for an RBI. SHS added one run in the second. Hendrix singled down the left field line, extending the lead to 3-1. The B lack and Gold pushed the lead to 5-1 with a pair of runs in the third.
Junior Will Akers began the game for Starkville as the right-handed pitcher surrendered four hits and one run (zero earned) over five and one-third innings, striking out five and walking one.
Junior Taj Prater added a pair of hits in the victory.
Against SPHS, the Jackets broke open a 1-1 fourth inning deadlock with a nine-run fourth inning, highlighted by a grand slam by senior Tyson Knox. It was his second home run of the day as he accounted for the offense in the loss to the Golden Wave. The scoring frame included doubles by senior Will Moody, junior Kaden Wilson and freshman Lennox Gipson in the ining. Moody and Wilson combined for four-of-the-nine hits by the Jackets.
Moody also excelled on the mound as the righty gave up three hits and one run over five innings, striking out five and walking one.
SHS hits the road for the first time this week with a visit to Neshoba Central on Tuesday night and a rematch with Kosciusko on Friday. SHS will host the Rockets and Grenada on Saturday to wrap up the month of February.