MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Whitwell scored four runs the last three innings in its TSSAA Class A state softball losers-bracket game Wednesday against Jackson Christian Academy. But the five-run fifth the Lady Tigers allowed proved to be too damaging to overcome.
The Lady Tigers had the tying runner aboard with none out in the bottom of the seventh, but Jackson Christian was able to hang on and defeat Whitwell 10-9.
The Lady Tigers end their year 22-11.
"I think we had a very good season. A lot of people didn't have us getting here, especially the way we started out," said Whitwell coach Rebecca Castle, whose team lost six of its first eight games. "We matured a whole lot as a team."
Sophie Dunavant hit two-run homers in her first two at-bats for the Lady Eagles (22-15), but Whitwell scored five runs in between and had a one-run lead heading to the fifth.
JCA's big rally began with a single by Emma Humphreys, followed by back-to-back bunt singles by Katie Lynch and Kayla Cisco. With Dunavant up for a third time and this time with the bases loaded, she walked to bring in a run. After Anna Yell allowed another RBI walk to next batter Jessica Cisco, Castle brought Carley Long into pitch.
"She was in a lot of pain," Castle said of Yell. "Her back was really bothering her."
Down three going to the bottom of the seventh, the Lady Tigers got a single from Yell that brought Long to the plate. The team's only senior responded with her second two-run homer in the game, pulling them within one.
Junior Sydney Perkins, who had singled in a run in the fifth, then reached on an error. But three consecutive outs put an end to Whitwell's season.
Freshman Maddie Jordan went 3-for-4, including a two-run double in the second, and scored twice. Sophomore Yell was 2-for-4 with an RBI double in the first and also scored twice.
"We gained a lot of experience," Castle said.
Contact Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6653. Follow him on Twitter @KelleySmiddie.