There have been times this season when the Vicksburg Missy Gators have looked like a softball team capable of doing some damage in the playoffs.

Other times — and occasionally in the same game — they’ve looked like a squad destined for the dreaded “two and barbecue” quick exit.

The goal for the next few weeks is to have more of the former, and less of the latter.

The Missy Gators will open the MHSAA Class 5A playoffs Friday against Oxford. Game 1 will be at Oxford at 6 p.m., and Games 2 and 3 of the best-of-three series will be Saturday at Vicksburg’s Softball Swamp field beginning at 4 p.m.

Vicksburg (7-12) has won two of its last three coming into the series. It’s a stretch that might be the best of the season for a squad whose hallmark has been crippling defensive miscues and inconsistency.

The Missy Gators have committed 79 errors in 19 games this season — an average of four per game — and most have led to big innings that proved costly.

“It’s usually come in one or two innings. We haven’t had too many games where it’s just been bad throughout,” Vicksburg coach Brian Ellis said.

Recently, the Missy Gators have shown signs of reversing their season-long trend. In wins over Ridgeland on April 9 and Cleveland on Monday, they committed a total of two errors.

Perhaps not coincidentally, those were also two of only three games this season in which Vicksburg’s opponents scored four runs or less.

“I think the girls are understanding that if (pitcher) Olivia (Oakes) throws outs and we make the routine plays, we can find a way to win the ballgame. So our confidence level going into the playoffs is going to be key,” Ellis said. “We’ve got three days where we don’t have games before we go to the playoffs, so we can get in the cage and fix some little things with hitting. If we can go through and play defense and then hit the ball, we’re going to do well.”

While the defense has improved, the Missy Gators’ hitting has gone into a slight funk. They’ve only scored 16 runs in their last eight games. Ellis and his players said the last few days have been spent largely in the batting cage trying to work out the kinks in their swings.

“We need to work on our hitting, definitely, and then just work on our communication. And then defensively, do what we did tonight,” Oakes said after Monday’s 2-1 win over Cleveland.

As a whole, Ellis said he’s confident heading into the series with Oxford. Whatever flaws the Missy Gators have in their game, he said, is made up for with a positive attitude and excitement about the possibilities that lay ahead if their recent success continues.

“I’m excited. Each year the girls have wanted to get better. Each year they want to go further and win their last game,” Ellis said. “That’s the mindset they have right now, and that’s a good mindset. That tells me they’re confident.”

VICKSBURG VS. OXFORD

Class 5A Playoffs

Game 1: Friday, 6 p.m., at Oxford

Game 2: Saturday, 4 p.m., at VHS

Game 3: Saturday, 6:30 p.m., at VHS (if necessary)