Warren Central’s Anna Mitchell slides safely into 3rd base in front of the tag from Vicksburg’s LaToya Trunell. (The Vicksburg Post/ROB MAXWELL)

Vicksburg High made the final push in a back-and-forth game with Warren Central Thursday afternoon at Lady Vikes Field and came away with a win and the lead in the race for the Division 3-5A title.

The Missy Gators (13-3) scored four runs in the top of the sixth to break a tie and claim a 10-6 win. Amber Landers’ RBI double and Brandi Parker’s RBI single contributed to the rally, but WC (10-5) committed two of its seven errors to get the inning started.

“It was the difference in the ballgame,” WC coach Lucy Young said of her team’s miscues. “We got, I think, 11 hits but they took advantage of all of the mistakes we made.”

After VHS took a 5-2 lead in the top of the third, WC rallied for four runs in the bottom of the fourth to reclaim the lead. An RBI single by Hayley Martin and a two-run single by Marilyn Landers keyed the inning.

The Missy Gators tied it in the fifth, however, on singles by Viola Howard and Dayna Nugent and a WC error. VHS then took the lead for good in the sixth. Emily Mathes reached on an error, went to third on Kayla Greenlee’s single and both scored on another error.

Landers’ two-out double scored Kelsey Hudson to make it 9-6 and Parker drove in Landers for the final run.

“We knew we could come back and get them,” said Amber Landers, who was also the winning pitcher.

“This is what we were waiting for. They beat us at the beginning of the year, and this is a little bit of revenge.”

The win put VHS in the driver’s seat for the division title. The Missy Gators can all but wrap up the division with a win at home Tuesday against Greenville.

“Next Tuesday, that’s the decider.” VHS coach Josh Harper said. “We’ve got all the cards now. I like being the dealer.”

The Lady Vikes, meanwhile, must hope Greenville can knock off the Missy Gators, then beat VHS Thursday at Halls Ferry Park. WC also has one game left against Greenville, Oct. 10 at home.

“If we falter, that opens the door for Warren Central. We can’t give them a step or they’ll take it,” Harper said.

WC took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Marilyn Landers doubled and scored on an error, and Lashanda Williams’ sacrifice fly brought home Lyn Strawn for the second run.

The Missy Gators rallied to tie it in the second on a two-run double by Lauren Johnson, then took the lead in the third with four singles, some skillful base running and an RBI groundout by Dana Daigre. Two runs also scored on a two-error play on a ball hit by Krystal Lofton to make it 5-2.