Terrell Academy softball beats Westfield, advances to state title game

COLUMBUS — Terrell Academy finally broke through against Westfield on Friday, but it took more than two home runs from Jacey Lane to topple the nine-time defending state champions.

The Lady Eagles also had to deliver one last comeback.

After watching a four-run lead dissolve in the sixth inning, Terrell Academy struck for three runs in the seventh to beat Westfield 8-7 at the South Commons softball complex and punch its ticket to Saturday’s GIAA Class AAA state championship game.

The Lady Eagles (15-7) will play at 2 p.m., with a possible rematch against the Lady Hornets awaiting them.

Westfield dropped into the elimination bracket to face John Milledge, which stayed alive by eliminating Deerfield-Windsor.

For Terrell Academy, Friday’s breakthrough came against a familiar obstacle. Westfield defeated the Lady Eagles in last year’s state championship game, then swept their two regular-season meetings this spring, 6-2 and 9-5.

On the third try this season, Terrell Academy found a way through.

Lane powered the offense with two home runs and five RBIs. She broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning, driving an 0-2 pitch over the left-field fence. Two innings later, she sent a two-run shot over the fence in center, helping the Lady Eagles build a 5-1 advantage.

That cushion vanished in the bottom of the sixth.

Westfield erupted for six runs on four hits, with a three-run homer by Spence providing the biggest blow. By the time the Lady Eagles escaped the inning, their four-run lead had become a 7-5 deficit, leaving them three outs from another loss to the defending champions.

Instead, Terrell Academy answered.

Singles by Blakely Aultman and Hadley Webb helped fuel a three-run seventh that pushed the Lady Eagles back in front, 8-7. Aultman then kept Westfield off the scoreboard in the bottom half to secure the victory and a return trip to the championship game.

Aultman earned the win with two innings of relief, allowing one hit and two unearned runs while walking one. Caroline Presley started and worked five innings, surrendering nine hits and five runs, four earned, with one strikeout and three walks.

Lane and Webb finished with two hits apiece, and Terrell Academy turned two double plays to help contain a Westfield lineup that collected 10 hits.

The Lady Hornets had the edge in hits. The Lady Eagles delivered the final answer — and earned themselves a chance to bring home the championship Saturday.