SEMINOLE –Connors Cowgirls softball season came to an end Friday in the Region II Tournament falling to No. 1 ranked Seminole State 8-0 in the opener and to Carl Albert 3-2 in an elimination game.
Errors were costly in both games for Connors, who finished the season with a 16-31 record.
In the nightcap against Carl Albert, the Vikings scored three runs (two unearned) in the fourth inning to hold off the Cowgirls.
The Cowgirls, who had just four hits held a 1-0 lead on a homer by Breanna Simmons in the first inning. It was her fifth of the year. Cowgirls sliced the Vikings lead to 3-2 in the sixth on a solo homer by Jessica Collins her 12th of the season.
"We just didn't get the timely hits with base runners on," said interim coach Rick Carbone. "We had two bombs, but they were both solo shots. We made two costly errors that hurt us. Our pitcher did a good job (Maylin Hladik) for us in the circle.
"We had a lot of opportunities this season, but didn't answer the call many times. We have 5-6 kids coming back and it looks promising. I am disappointed how it ended season wise. We are a lot better than our record shows," said Carbone.
In the opener top-ranked Seminole State (48-2) took advantage of Cowgirls errors, and failure to get base hits, while the Trojans used the long ball to advance to Saturday's semifinals at 11 a.m. against Western State who defeated Carl Albert 3-2.
"We just didn't get any hits," said Carbone. "It was a pretty good ball game for the most part until the fifth. They jumped on top of us in the first and that home run really hurt. We never answered, never came back," said Carbone.
Trojans pounded out nine base hits, including a two-run homer in the third inning by Jolie Romaine, for a four-run inning and a 6-0 advantage.
The Trojans opened the game with two runs in the first inning on two hits and a throwing error by Cowgirls' catcher Reagan Swink.
Seminole close out the game with two runs in the fifth on three base hits and a throwing error.
Cowgirls managed just three base hits, singles by Bailey Aldridge, Simmons and a double by Swink.
Simmons (5-5) took the loss for the Cowgirls giving up nine base hits, and two walks. "Despite the score Simmons pitched a pretty good ball game," said Carbone. "She did everything you could ask for."