MONTICELLO — Kaci Williams slid home with the winning run andEast Central’s Lady Hornets escaped Lawrence County with athrilling 1-0 Monday night victory in the semifinals of the Class4A state fastpitch softball playoffs. The game went 8 innings.

East Central (23-11) advances to the championship finals toNeshoba Central. The Lady Hornets are seeking a fourth straightstate title.

In a pitching duel, East Central’s Lindsay Long struck out 9batters and allowed only 1 hit. She didn’t issue a base onballs.

“My pitcher pitched the game of her life,” said East Centralcoach Tracy Box. “Offensively we couldn’t hit the ball but mypitcher kept us in the game. Lawrence County has a good team.

Losing hurler Kelly Stokes struck out 9 batters and walked 1.The Lady Cougars (29-7) committed 1 error and it helped EastCentral score the winning run.

“It was a great game for both teams,” said LCHS head coachBeronica Stringfellow. “The pitchers fought hard.

“It came down to them (Lady Hornets) squeezing the runner in,”she added. “This was a great year and season for us, especially ourseniors. They stepped up and played hard.”

A single by Kaila Givens was the only hit for Lawrence.Givenssingled in the bottom of the eighth and runner Gina McCloud wasleft stranded on third base. East Central got a single from LaurenHarger.

Lawrence County had won Saturday’s opener 2-1 at East Central inHurley but the Lady Hornets rebounded to take the nightcap 7-4,forcing a third game.