After holding off elimination the day before Highland Lady Scotties looked to continue their softball season needing to win three games on Friday to stay alive for action over the weekend in Clinton, Mississippi.

First up for the Scotties on Friday was Illinois Central and that’s where the season came to an end for Highland with a 4-3 loss in 11 innings of action. Both teams got on the board early with one-run in the second inning, with Highland scoring their run courtesy three walks and a fielder’s choice. Neither team would score after that until the eleventh inning of action, when in the top half of the frame Illinois Central blasted a three-run homer to take the 4-1 lead. Highland bounced back with a pair of singles and a double in the bottom of the eleventh, but that offense only produced two-runs leaving the Scotties a run short of continuing the game.

Illinois Central out-hit Highland in the game 15-5 but the Scotties manage to stay in the game with solid defense and great relief pitching by Natalie Abrahams who came in the fourth inning.

Scotties opened the National Championship tourney with a 6-1 win over Sauk Valley CC, out-hitting Sauk 10-1 in the game using an outstanding pitching performance from Paige Crawford (7IP, 1 hit, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K’s) to grab the win. Highland then fell in a tight ballgame with Phoenix College 8-6 in a game which the Scotties had the early lead 5-2 after five innings. But three-run innings in the fifth and sixth pushed Phoenix College to the win despite a Taylor Hatfield home-run in the game.

After falling to the Elimination bracket the Scotties kept their hopes alive with a win over Kankakee CC 14-7, earning the win behind three home runs in the game. Baylee Dillion, Holly Wilmarth and Kelli Halder each blasted a deep ball to help the Scotties stay alive. Highland then bowed out on Friday with the 11 inning loss to Illinois Central.

With the loss Highland bows out of this year’s NJCAA Division II National Championship going 2-2 in action and finishing the season 39-10.