Marshall County’s Lady Marshals made their first appearance in the KHSAA Softball State Tournament since 2019, facing Lawrence County on Friday in Lexington. Despite a hard-fought effort, their impressive season came to a close with a 5-4 loss to the Lady Bulldogs, finishing with a record of 28-9-1.
The Lady Marshals found themselves in a hole early after Lawrence County took control with a four-run second inning, capitalizing on a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch and a three-run double by Jada Patton.
They put their first run on the board in the bottom of the fourth. After Macy McLeod walked and Allicen Harris singled, Audrey Knisley laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners. Trinlee Anderson then delivered an RBI single to make it 4-1.
Marshall County added one more run in the fifth. Addley Poole led off with a single and a sacrifice by Elin Denfip moved her over to second before McLeod drove in the run to trim the deficit to 4-2.
Knisley and Anderson opened the sixth with back-to-back singles, but the Lady Marshals were unable to capitalize. In the top of the seventh, Lawrence County tacked on another run with an RBI double by Gracie Preece.
Marshall County staged one final rally in the seventh. Denfip led off with a single, and after a two-out walk to Harris, Knisley — who went a perfect 3-for-3 — drove in a run. Another run scored on an error to make it 5-4, but the comeback fell just short.
Lawrence County will meet Taylor County, who defeated Letcher County Central 5-3, in Sunday’s 4:00 quarterfinal.
Senior Allicen Harris, who has committed to Morehead State University, closed out a standout career in the circle, striking out four while allowing nine hits and just one earned run of the five scored.
Lawrence 0 4 0 0 0 0 1 | 5 9 1
Marshall 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 | 4 8 1
Marshall (28-9-1): McLeod 1/3 (RBI), Harris 1/3, Knisley 3/3 (RBI), Anderson 1/4 (RBI), Poole 1/3, Denfip 1/2
Marshall: Harris 7.0 (9 H, 5 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO)
Lawrence (25-7): Patton 1/4 (2B, 3 RBI), Kitts 2/4 (2B), Woods 2/4, Preece 3/4 (2B, RBI), Maynard 1/3, Smith (RBI)
Lawrence: Blevins 7.0 (8 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 3 SO)