Tellico Plains could only watch as Macey Neal’s single line drive left the infield off a Lady Bears’ glove.
The Kingston batter’s hit pushed a game-winning run across the plate in the bottom of the eighth, outdoing Tellico’s defensive gem and knocking the Lady Bears into the District 3-2A elimination bracket.
“We played really good defense. That just got some timely hits,” Tellico Plains coach Don Swanson said.
Tellico (16-7) held Kingston to seven hits and scoreless until the bottom of the seventh in the defeat, two days after winning a regular season finale over Kingston 4-2, Wednesday.
“I think it benefits both teams as far as knowing how to pitch each other and knowing how to play each other,” Swanson said.
“You just have to get right down to your game and not make mistakes. That is when it really comes down to playing errorless softball.”
Trailing 1-0, Kingston found two doubles in the bottom of the seventh after being held to two hits to that point. The second one pushed a tying run across the plate, squaring the Lady Yellow Jackets and Lady Bears at 1-1.
Kadence Moses and Tellico continued to weather a storm, recording two strikeouts with the game-winning run on third base to force extra innings.
“We just made a good play and it gave us more momentum going into the eighth. We had a good chance to score. We got the bunt down, but it was a bang-bang play at the plate,” Swanson said.
“That is just a part of it.”
Moses finished the night with seven strikeouts and two walks.
The Lady Bears took a lead in the top of the eighth.
Moses started the frame with a single that moved Bella Wright — placed on second by the international tiebreaker rule — to third base.
Wright, who had the RBI for the game’s opening run, gifted Tellico its second lead of the night, crossing home plate on a passed ball. The chance to extend the lead was there.
Moses got tagged out at home plate on a squeeze play. Addison Joines was hit in the next at-bat, loading the bases with Abbi Wear on third, but Sailor Presley’s 20th strikeout of the night ended the threat.
Wright’s RBI single in the top of the third was Tellico’s first hit of the night, scoring Dana Harmon. Harmon’s valiant effort on the base pads stood out for Tellico.
The Tellico offense was held to six hits on the night — two of those coming after Kingston tied the game.
Presley finished the night with two dozen strikeouts and four walks for Kingston.
“She has a lot of pitches. She is up and down and in and out. Defensively is where she is really tough,” Swanson added.
“She is a lot like Kadence. If she can get a glove on it then it is caught around the mound. She is not only a good pitcher but a good defensive player.”
Moses started the night hot, striking out the side in the first and second innings. Kingston’s first hit came in the bottom of the fourth.
Taylor Rose turned a double play in the bottom of the fifth inning after Neal failed to tag up on a lineout.
Kingston was held to one runner in scoring position through the first six frames.
“Sydney Scott made three of the best catches in the 18 years that I have coached. Addison Joines caught one going backwards. They just played great defense,” Swanson said.
Tellico Plains will face No. 5 Sweetwater, which lost 10-0 to No. 1 Meigs County in elimination on Monday.
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