MONTGOMERY — Straughn’s Lady Tigers played hard both games Friday, but came up short as they ended their season in the Class 3A State Softball Tournament at Lagoon Park in Montgomery.

The Lady Tigers could’ve buckled when White Plains took a 5-1 lead in their second game, but kept fighting despite losing 7-1 to be eliminated.

SHS started its tournament against Madison Academy, where it fell 6-2.

“They played hard both times, both games,” SHS coach Trent Taylor said. “I knew the first game was going to be a bit overwhelming. Obviously, we had a few jitters to start out with.

“Madison Academy had a good team,” he said. “White Plains’ got a great team.”

Straughn tied the game 1-1 in the bottom of the second inning when Paige Taylor scored on an errant throw to second after stealing third.

WPHS surged to a 4-1 lead after a two-run home run by Anna Snider.

The Lady Wildcats went ahead 5-1 on an RBI single from Amber Greenwood that scored Carley Wood later in the inning.

WPHS added two runs in the sixth on an RBI double from Lauren Mueller; and a passed ball.

The Lady Tigers showed their good defense early in the game by executing two double plays — one in the top of the first when Kristen Peavey got a force and threw out the runner at first, and the other in the third after Laken Harris made a tag on a run and got the throw out at first.

Harris, Taylor, Peavey and Jacie Williamson had one hit each.

“It was a great experience for them,” Taylor said. “If it’s got to end, then you want it to end in Montgomery.”

Madison Academy 6, Straughn 2

Straughn and Madison Academy stayed neck and neck at 2-2 after the first inning, but three runs in the fourth for MA were enough for the visiting Lady Tigers to get the first-round win.

Katelyn Kinsaul and Laken Harris led the first inning with singles. Molly Stewart then was walked to load the bases with no outs.

Paige Taylor, the No. 4 hitter, laced a single to score Kinsaul to cut the lead to 2-1.

Harris later scored as Hayden Willis struck out swinging to bring the ball game at 2-all.

SHS got out of a two-base jam in the top of the third inning as Madison Academy’s Mary Mobley struck out swinging with two outs. There were two runners on after they reached on fielder’s choices.

Straughn got a three-up, three-down inning in the bottom of the third to plate no runs going into the fourth.

Kambry Patterson led the fourth with a single, and later came home on Ashlee Alexander’s RBI single to break the tie at 3-2.

Brandi Foreman then hit a two-run triple to give MA a 5-2 advantage.

Montgomery Academy’s Maizie Dyess scored the eventual game-winning run on a ground out in the top of the fifth inning.

Lindsey Lewter, Foreman and Jenny Dickens had two hits each for MA.

Kinsaul and Harris went 2-for-4 to lead SHS.

Madison Academy’s Katie Clarke struck out six batters and allowed two runs on seven hits in seven innings for the win.

Willis struck out four and allowed four earned runs on 11 hits.