MONTICELLO — Catcher Dalphne Armstrong slapped the game-winninghit and drove in Mary McLaurin as the Lawrence County Cougarsclipped Quitman’s Lady Panthers 7-6 on a windy Friday in a10-inning marathon. Armstrong finished with 3 RBIs, and helped thewin with a fifth-inning double.

Lawrence County (17-7) advances to the South State 4A finals.The Lady Cougars meet the winner of the North Pike-Poplarvilleseries Tuesday. The state championships are scheduled for V.A.Fields in Jackson Saturday.

“All three games were hard-fought,” said LCHS interim head coachTarvey Ward. “Neither team gave up. We were able to string togethera few hits and pulled away with a win.”

Quitman had forced a third game in the best-of-three series bywinning Game 2 over LCHS 4-3. The Cougars had posted a 6-0 shutoutin the opener.

“Quitman kept coming up with the heart of their lineup but theycouldn’t capitalize,” Ward pointed out.

The Panthers led 6-3 in the fourth before LCHS used a 3-runfifth to gain a deadlock. The teams combined for 27 hits.

On the mound, Shelby Mitchell (0 K, 0 BB) picked up the win,allowing 13 hits. Hannah Hampton (2 K, 1 BB) gave up 14 hits in theloss.

Shortstop Allie Harris had a double and 3 singles for LCHS anddrove in 2 runs. Right-centerfielder Mary McLaurin tripled andsingled. Rightfielder Kayla Byrd had 3 singles. Jessie Alexanderdoubled.

Quitman got 3 singles apiece from Brooke Dew and Ashley Downing.Angel Johnson singled and tripled.

In the 10th, Byrd led off with a single to left field but wasforced out at second on McLaurin’s grounder. Harris singled to leftand Armstrong followed with the game-winner to right.