Hallsville Rallies in Seventh to Capture Wild Playoff Win Over Ennis

BULLARD – Emma Hawthorne finished with four RBIs, including a game-tying, seventh-inning home run as Hallsville staved off a furious comeback from Ennis to advance to the third round of the postseason.

Ennis rallied from a large deficit, scoring eight runs in the final two frames to seize a late lead before Hawthorne’s blast tied it, setting up a walk-off walk for a 14-13 triumph for the Ladycats in a Class 5A Region II area do-or-die contest at Bullard’s Brook Hill School.

The Ladycats await the winner of Lufkin and Mansfield Timberview in the next round.

The Lady Lions, out of District 16-5A, jumped ahead with a three-run first. Hallsville, the 15-5A champions, then responded with eight unanswered over the next three innings before building a 12-5 lead with five innings in the books.

In the sixth, Ennis sent nine batters to the plate, took advantage of two Hallsville errors and two free passes to chip the deficit down to two runs with a five spot.

Hallsville led off the bottom half of the inning with single but it was erased with a double play for the lone 1-2-3 inning from the Lady Lion defense.

Down by two, nine-hole hitter Kinsey Skroh worked a walk and Michaela Cochran followed with a single. Morelia Monreal then put Ennis ahead for the first time with a three-run blast to center – the Lady Lions’ second longball of the evening.

Facing their possible final three outs of the season, Hawthorne led off the seventh with a solo home run and Hannah Mizell and Madison McElroy followed with singles. Emily Morin then walked to load the bases and Bailey Gabriel delivered the walk-off via a bases-loaded base on balls.