Hallsville Drops Game 1 to Forney in Seventh Inning

VAN -- It was hard to keep track of the changes in the final two innings.

After Hallsville tied the game on Anahi Ramirez's RBI single in the bottom of the sixth, it had momentum.

It didn't take long for Forney to snatch it back.

Hannah Holbrook sent a line drive between second and third base to drive in the go-ahead run. Trinity Cannon's two-RBI home run to left center field followed and proved to be the dagger. The Lady Jackrabbits defeated Hallsville, 4-1, on Thursday in Game 1 of the 5A Region II regional final series.

"I just think we had a mental lapse," coach Kayla Whatley said. "They put pressure on us. One pitch changed that game. We'll come back ready to go again tomorrow. We've gotta hit our spots because we know we can hit."

The Ladycats (25-10) struggled to hit the ball most of the night. They finished with five hits, two of which came in the sixth inning. Lauren Anderson led off in the inning, hitting a ball deep to center field that resulted in a double. Ramirez's single later brought her in.

The game was mostly a defensive battle, with the first run not coming until the fifth inning. Forney (32-6) had more luck hitting, as the Lady Jackrabbits finished with 10 hits. Hallsville's defense did its part, though. The Ladycats twice got out of situations with two runners in scoring position, including a 5-3-6 double play in the fourth.

Game 2 is at 7 p.m. Friday in Van. The Ladycats will come prepared, Whatley said. If they force a Game 3, it would be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Van.

"They're gonna come ready to play and come ready to see their pitcher again in the circle," she said. "We had runners on base every inning, we've just got to come ready to go."