With time running out on the baseball season, the Dallas County Hornets go into tonight’s game against Jemison needing a win to keep their playoff hopes alive.

“It’s a big stage for us,” Dallas County head coach Willie Moore said. “We are in a must-win game against a very good Jemison team.”

The Hornets (12-10) fell to the Panthers (19-9) in a close 2-1 game in Jemison earlier in the season and will be looking to reverse the result in Plantersville.

“I think the first game was a game we should have won,” Moore said. “We made two errors in the last inning that cost us the game, basically. We also didn’t hit the ball very well, but you can really credit Jemison’s pitching for that. We feel like if we play well we will come away with a win.“

Moore said the team has been to the playoffs the past two years, but this year has been more challenging due to a deeper field and a younger team.

“It’s a different team,” Moore said. “It’s a younger group than has gone the last two years and this year, instead of not having to play your best every game, you have to beat some good teams to make the playoffs. If we make it this year, it will be more rewarding.”

The Hornets hope to use their playoff experience in, what will shape up to be, a playoff game situation tonight.

If Dallas County loses, Jemison will take the second-place playoff spot behind Bibb County outright.

If the Hornets win, they will force a tiebreaker with the Panthers.

“You hope that our experience will pay off,” Moore said. “Our best pitcher was banged up at Bibb County, so we will patch him up and see what we can do.

“I’m looking forward to a great game.”