The Lady Tiger’s season came to a close Wednesday night when they lost 4-1 to the Spanish Fort Toros.

The two teams were locked in a pitcher’s duel through the five innings. Hartselle’s starting pitcher, Morgyn Sparkman, allowed only two hits while Spanish Fort’s Ainsley Lambert allowed only one hit, a triple by Kalli Cartee.

Following a scoreless top of the sixth, the Toros broke through with a run in the bottom of the inning. Lambert, the lead-off batter, walked and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. She scored on a single by Cameron Cox to give Spanish Fort a 1-0 lead.

With their season down to their final three outs, the Lady Tigers finally were able to create a threat in the top of the seventh inning. Mackenzie Jackson led off with a single to start the Hartselle rally. Emily Cowart then picked up a bunt single that advanced Jackson to second. Following a strikeout for the first out of the inning, Hannah Grace Bevis stepped to the plate. She came through with a single to right that scored Jackson from second to tie the game, 1-1.

Sparkman shut down the Toros in the bottom of the seventh to send the game to extra innings tied at 1-1.

Lambert once again held the Lady Tigers scoreless in the top of the eighth.

Spanish Fort had two runners get on base with walks to sandwich an out on a sacrifice bunt. With runners at first and second, Hannah Weishaar stepped to the plate and on the third pitched homered to win the game on a walk-off.

Sparkman took the loss for Hartselle as she allowed four runs on four hits while striking out five in seven and one-third innings. Walks were once again the thorn in her side as she walked six batters. Three of those batters came around to score.

Lambert picked up the win for Spanish Fort as she gave up one run on four hits while striking out 13 and walking two.

Hartselle’s season comes to an end with a 31-14 record.

This game marked the final time that seven Lady Tiger seniors would take the field in a Hartselle uniform. Those seven seniors are Kalli Cartee, Mackenzie Jackson, Emily Cowart, Kylie Winton, Amber Crittendon, Morgyn Sparkman, Mallorie Kauffman and Hannah Grace Bevis. The 2019 State Championships was the second for each of the seniors.

Spanish Fort (28-18-1) advances to face Brookwood, who defeated Pell City in the other loser bracket game.