GRAHAM — It wasn't a hit, but an error that ended the Windthorst Trojanettes' season Friday.

Those can be the toughest losses to swallow, but coach Alyson Deatherage doesn't mind the aggressive play that led to a 6-5 loss to Albany, allowing the Lady Lions to sweep a Region I-2A quarterfinals series.

The decisive play came with one out and a runner on second in Albany's bottom of the seventh in a 5-5 game. Kaley Smith hit a ground ball to Windthorst third baseman MacKenzie Gillispie, who checked on Albany's lead-runner Lindsey Lucas. Lucas had strayed well away from the base and Gillispie decided to try to throw her out at second instead of going for the force at first.

The throw ended up going into left field and Lucas came around to score the game-winning run from second.

“That was a great game. It was much better for us. That was the type of softball we like to play,” said Deatherage, whose Trojanettes lost 9-7 in Game 1 Thursday after going down 9-0 early. “She was trying to get a lead out, but unfortunately made a little bit of an error there. I see what she was trying to do. She was trying to be aggressive and I teach them to be aggressive. We'll hang our hat on that.”

The Trojanettes would have never been in a tie game in the seventh inning if it wasn't for Gillispie, who had a monster day at the plate. She finished the game 4 for 4 with three doubles and four RBIs, including a game-tying double in the top of the seventh that missed leaving the yard by a few feet.

Even her fielding had been top notch at the hot corner through the first six innings.

“Credit to MacKenzie. She had a great game,” Deatherage said. “She made that one mistake the entire game. She tied the game up. She was great.”

It's a disappointing end to the Trojanettes' season as they were looking to return to the Class 2A state tournament for the second time in three years after sweeping District 8-2A. But Deatherage notes that it took a great hitting team to knock them out of the playoffs.

“That's the best hitting team we've seen all season,” Deatherage said. “State was definitely the aspiration we had. That was the goal the entire season. Credit to Albany. They are just good, fundamental hitters.”

REGION I-2A QUARTERFINALS

Albany 6, Windthorst 5

Windthorst

201

010

1

—

5

12

4

Albany

040

001

1

—

6

6

3

Battery: (W) Laynie Brown and Abby Brown. (A) Reyna Garcia and Caitlyn Holson. WP: Garcia. LP: L. Brown..

2B: (W) MacKenzie Gillispie 3; (A) Baley Green.

Leading Hitters: (W) Gillispie 4x4, 4 RBI; Abby Brown 3x4, 3 runs; Claire Hemmi 2x3 run, RBI; (A) Garcia 2x3, w2 RBI; Elia Hebel 2x4, run.

Records: Windthorst 22-12; Albany 22-4.

UIL PLAYOFF PAIRINGS

Here are the Wichita Falls area regional quarterfinal softball matchups.

REGION I-4A QUARTERFINALS

One game: Vernon (21-4) vs. Brownwood (22-6-1), 6 p.m. Friday, Abilene Christian

Graham (25-9) vs. Venus (19-8-1)

(At Aledo)

G1: Graham 5, Venus 2

G2: Noon Saturday

*G3: 6 p.m. Saturday

REGION I-3A QUARTERFINALS

Henrietta (19-10) vs. Brock (27-5)

G1: 7 p.m. Friday, Bowie

G2: 2 p.m. Saturday, Graford

*G3: 30 min after G2

REGION I-2A QUARTERFINALS

Windthorst (22-12) vs. Albany (22-4)

(At Graham)

Albany 9, Windthorst 7

Albany 6, Windthorst 5

Petrolia (24-9) vs. Hawley (21-9)

(At Seymour)

G1: 5 p.m. Friday

G2: 30 minutes after G1

*G3: 10:30 a.m. Saturday