REPUBLIC, Mo. — Top-seeded Kickapoo came from behind to beat third-seeded Carthage 3-2 in the championship game of the Class 5 District 6 softball tournament on Friday night at Bervin White Memorial Softball Complex.
The loss ended Carthage's season. Stephanie Ray's Tigers finished with a record of 19-12.
Kickapoo (23-3) advanced to play Lee's Summit West (17-10) on Oct. 22 in the quarterfinals.
Kickapoo scored in the bottom of the first on Kate Pierce's RBI double to right.
Carthage plated two runs in the second. Makayla Jennings singled to center and Presley Probert singled to left before Kate Potter's sacrifice moved the runners over.
Jordyn Jones then hit an RBI single to center. Jensyn Elder gave the Tigers a 2-1 lead when the Chiefs couldn't corral her line drive, with Probert scoring on the error.
Kickapoo took the lead for good in the sixth inning.
Chloe Merced doubled to right field, and after an out, Ellie Facklam hit a go-ahead home run to right.
Carthage's Mary Grace Richmond singled to lead off the seventh. Landry Cochran's sac bunt moved the tying run into scoring position.
But Facklam retired Katie Crowe and Natalie Rodriguez to end the game.
Jennings had two hits for the Tigers. Elder was charged with the loss. She gave up three runs, all earned, on five hits and one walk. Elder struck out six.
In addition to hitting the game-winning homer, Facklam was the winning pitcher. She scattered six hits, struck out three and gave up one earned run.
-SoMo Sports staff reports