Prep fastpitch: Haskell's state rally falls short in seventh

Oct. 7—Haskell's battle with Lindsay on day one of the Class 3A state tournament began bumpy and stayed that way. The resilient Haymakers were able to make a run late, but their much-awaited state trip was shortened in a 5-3 quarterfinal loss Thursday at USA Hall of Fame Complex.

Haymaker pitcher RayLin Morgan got into trouble in the first, loading the bases with three walks. She hit Chloe Broussard with a pitch to push across a run, but got Madi McGowan on a come-backer to avoid further trouble.

Then Maklain Stinnett's two-run home run in the second was unearned because of a leadoff error. Another error resulted in a run in the fourth to make it 4-0, and Jadyn Webb's run-scoring single in the seventh appeared to have the game locked up for the Leopardettes.

Not quite.

Shania Burkhalter led off the seventh with a walk, then with one out, Josie Enkey walked. Riley Westmoreland grounded into a fielder's choice with scored a run, then after Layla Markou singled, Lynzi Kelley's two-run single made it a two-run game and brought Saylor Brown to the plate as the tying run.

Brown, who had Haskell's only hit off Lindsay's Riese Flood going into the inning with a single back in the fourth, flied out to right ended Haskell's season at 31-5.

Morgan allowed five hits. Three of her runs were unearned.

"We weren't as loose as we've been and I think it got away from us a little bit early, but RayLin settled in and we battled hard and made some plays," Haskell coach Greg Wilson said. "The effort at the end didn't surprise me because I know what kind of kids we have."

Haskell, which hadn't lost since Aug. 27, saw its 17-game win streak end. Lindsay (29-12) will carry a six-game win streak on to face Washington on Friday in the semifinals. The Haymakers were making their first state trip since 2017, which also ended with a quarterfinal loss.