Fighting, coming back, Lady Ads end up 1-2 at state
MURFRESSBORO — Rebounding from a 6-3 opening round loss to Arlington in the Division I-4A Softball State Tournament, two-time defending state champ Farragut proved a tough nut to crack in its next two games — despite eventually falling short.
After its first loss Tuesday, May 23, the Lady Admirals (final 33-7 record) edged Coffee County 4-3 Wednesday, May 24, after trailing 2-1 going into the top of the sixth inning.
Home runs by juniors Laney Shrader and Hailey Nichols in the sixth put the Lady Ads up 3-2. Farragut’s eventual game-winning hit, with two outs in the seventh, came from sophomore catcher Elsa Morrison, who ended 2023 just one homer short of state single-season record (at 23, the record being 24).
Morrison, Shrader (also a double), leadoff hitter Addison Pressley, a junior, and senior Avery Mattina each contributed two hits.
Winning pitcher Emma MacTavish, a junior, went the distance, allowing three earned runs, eight hits and one walk along with three strikeouts.
Trailing Henry County 5-2 in the bottom of the sixth later Wednesday, Rilee Kate Ragan’s home run, an Audrey Ginel walk, Pressley’s single and a two-RBI double by Morrison pulled Farragut even 5-5. Behind 6-5 and down to its last strike in the seventh, Nichols slammed a game-tying home run. But the Lady Ads lost 8-6 in eight innings.
