Newton County’s Landree Amis stretches to force out a Lawrence County runner at the plate during Sunday’s game in Decatur.

After winning Game 2 of the MHSAA Class 4A semifinals Monday afternoon, Newton County took Lawrence County to the 10th inning, but Lawrence County held Newton County scoreless in the top of the 10th and walked off in the bottom of the 10th for a 4-3 win.

The loss ended Newton County’s (25-9-1) season.

The game was tied 1-1 at the end of regulation. Both teams scored one run apiece in the top and bottom of the eighth and ninth innings.

Jada McDougle finished 2-for-4, and Katelyn Gibson was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Lorren Ivey and Lizzie Hollingsworth also had RBIs.

Brittany Thomas pitched nine innings, giving up one unearned run on eight hits with a walk and two strikeouts.

NEWTON COUNTY  8, LAWRENCE COUNTY 1

Brittany Thomas pitched a gem, and the Lady Cougars forced a Game 3 in the MHSAA Class 4A state semifinals earlier Monday afternoon.

Thomas pitched seven innings, giving up one unearned run on five hits while walking three and striking out one. 

Jada McDougle went 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI, and Shelby Anderson finished 2-for-5 with a double, an RBI and two runes scored. Lorren Ivey went 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Lizzy Hollingsworth was 3-for-4 with a run scored and.

GAME 1 (Sunday)

DECATUR — It’s not often that softball teams come to Newton County and dominate the Lady Cougars on their own field. 

But Sunday was one of those days.

Lawrence County banged out 15 hits and took an 11-1 run-rule victory over Newton County in the Class 4A South State finals.

Lawrence County improved to 30-1-1 on the season while Newton County fell to 24-8-1.

It was a tough loss for Newton County, who managed just two hits on the day and trailed 7-0 after three innings as Lawrence County’s Josey Nations set down the first eight batters she faced.

“Our biggest thing was when we got down, it took us out of our offense and entirely out of our game plan,” Newton County coach Justin Chaney said. “And she is probably one of the top three or four pitchers in the state of Mississippi for a reason and we knew that going in. We just couldn’t do what we wanted to do once we got down. Give them credit, they hit the ball and made every play. They squared the ball up. Kudos to them, today was their day.”

Newton County scored its only run in the bottom of the fourth when Shelby Anderson walked to lead off the inning. Courtesy runner Lanie Phillips eventually came in and score on an RBI single by Landree Amis, who had to leave the game in the sixth after a collision at the plate.

After going up 7-1, Lawrence County added two fourth and sixth innings for the final margin.

Anderson started in the circle for Newton County and gave up 11 runs on 15 hits and two walks while striking out three.

Game 1 of the series was moved to Sunday after heavy rains in Newton County on Saturday. Game 2 of the series will be Monday at Lawrence County in Monticello at 5 p.m. Game 3, if needed, would be immediately afterward.

“I know when we load that bus going to Lawrence County, I will have some girls who will go down there and fight,” Chaney said. “You have to try and win the first game and let it go from there. I know we will bounce back and play hard. We will get after it tomorrow.”

RALEIGH 5, CHOCTAW CENTRAL 2

Darien Tubby finished 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI, but Choctaw Central lost Game 2 of the MHSAA Class 3A state semifinal round against Raleigh Monday, ending the Lady Warriors’ season.

Tia’Rain Saunders, Maiya Joe and Taelor York also had hits for Choctaw Central.

Saunders got the start for the Lady Warriors, pitching six innings and giving up five runs, four earned, on nine hits with one walk and one strikeout.

The Lady Warriors finished the season with a 16-13 record.