MONTICELLO-The Lawrence County Lady Cougars blew past Florence in the opening round of the state 4A slow-pitch softball playoffs. LCHS swept the best-of-three series, winning two straight. In the first game, Lawrence County won 12-0 in four-innings. The second game lasted five innings, with the Lady Cougars claiming a 14-2 victory.

With the wins, Meleah Howard’s girls improved to 24-2 on the season. They will advance to the second round of the playoffs, where LCHS will play Newton County  Saturday.

“We had a pretty good night,” Howard said. “We weren’t ever really threatened from a won-loss standpoint, but we had lulls in which we didn’t swing the bats as well as we needed to. For us to go as far as we want to go, we’ve got to hit all the time, up and down the lineup.”

In Tuesday’s first game, the Lady Cougars exploded for 11 runs in the bottom of the first, quickly taking control of both the game and the best-of-three series. Tyranesha Davis and Jordan Harp each had two hits in the inning, and Josey Nations had a key two-run double. LCHS benefited from a plethora of Florence first-inning miscues.

It remained 11-0 until the bottom of the fourth, when the Lady Cougars ended the game via the fourth inning, 12-run rule. Maddux Kirkland reached on an error, and Zyon Feazell drove her home with a booming double to left.

Davis and Harp each had two hits. Nations, Feazell, Kirkland, Abbie Errington, and Callie Fortenberry each had one. Senior pitcher Barri Rogers was as solid as ever, allowing five hits and walking none. The Lady Cougars played error-free softball in the first game.

First baseman Abby Smith led Florence with two hits. The Lady Eagles had only one base runner to get as far as second base.

Things started a bit more slowly for the Lady Cougars in Game Two. Tyranesha Davis singled to lead off the game, and scored on a Maddux Kirkland sacrifice fly. LCHS was the visiting team in the second game. An Abby Smith double was again the big blow for Florence in the bottom of the second, as the Lady Eagles knotted the game at 2-2.

Lawrence County took control in the top of the third, scoring five runs on four hits. The fourth inning brought five more runs, with Zyon Feazell smashing a three-run homer. Leading 11-2 through four innings, the Lady Cougars ended the game with three more runs in the fifth.

Josey Nations led the LCHS attack with three hits. Sydney Pevey, Tyranesha Davis, and Jordan Harp each had two hits. Feazell, Maddux Kirkland, Amanda Rushing, and pitcher Barri Rogers also hit safely.

The Lady Cougars will be on the road for a best-of-three series on Saturday, at Newton County. Game times are not yet set.