SULPHUR โ Live Oak's comeback attempt against Hahnville was spoiled by inches.
In the top of the fifth, a would-be three-run line drive by Molly Latham landed just foul. Live Oak settled for one run to tie it 5-5.
In the bottom of the seventh with two outs, No. 8 Hahnville's Jordyn Chaix hit a shallow fly ball to left field with a runner at first. Live Oak's left fielder dived to make the grab, but the ball touched down to the turf inches in front of her outstretched glove.
The runner at first took off the moment the ball left Chaix's bat and slid across home plate before the catcher could tag her to seal a 6-5 walk-off winย over No. 10 Live Oak in the Division I nonselect state softball championship on Sunday at Frasch Park in Sulphur.
"To win a state championship, you've got to be really good, and you've got to be a little lucky," Eagles coach Katie Prescott said. "I just think we drew the short straw on that one today."
She said she thought both teams played well, but bad breaks proved the difference between lifting a trophy and second place.
"We put ourselves in a great spot," Prescott said. "We just got a bad ball right there."
Live Oak (20-15) jumped on Hahnville in the first after capitalizing on two errors. With one out, Halle Maxwell reached first on a grounder after the shortstop fumbled a ground ball.
Jeanne Janise then smacked a single to left field. The left fielder failed to field the ball as it rolled to the fence, scoring Maxwell and allowing Janise to reach third.
Ava Kate Phillips made the score 2-0 after she ripped a line drive to center field.
Hahnville (21-12) responded in the bottom of the frame. The Tigers put two runners on after a walk and Live Oak's second baseman dropped a pop fly.
Rylee Villasenor made Live Oak pay for the error with a three-run homer to left field to put Hahnville up 3-2 after one inning.
After three scoreless innings, Maxwell singled with two outs in the fifth. Janise smashed a double that tied the game.
Villasenor answered with her second home run of the game to put the Tigers in front 5-3 in the bottom of the fifth.
Prescott credited Villasenor for her timely hitting in the win.
"She was ready for the moment," she said. "I think we're capable of the same thing. We really just didn't have that key hit in a few of the innings."
Live Oak drew a walk to lead off the sixth. The Eagles put two on with another walk after a sacrifice bunt. After a second out, Taylor Mattingly managed an infield single to score one run.
Latham then nearly flipped momentum with a line drive that was ruled a foul ball in the top of the sixth. She went back to the plate and hit a slow roller to the pitcher. She beat the throw to first to drive in one run and tie the game.
In the seventh, Hahnville walked it off on Chaix's single.