B

It took the equivalent length of a Major League Baseball game, but Coffee County softball got the job done Sunday evening.

Hosting cross-county rival Tullahoma, the Lady Raiders overcame a slow start to defeat the Lady Cats 3-2 in nine innings. The win was also Coffee County’s third straight.

“Not a great start. Probably one of the worst starts we’ve had innings 1-5, but the fact that they stuck together, had the grit and they found a way to tie. Once we tied it, I kind of felt good, felt a bit better about ourselves,” Coffee County coach Brandon McWhorter said. “They kept working, they kept working and finally we got the break we needed.”

Tullahoma jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning and stayed ahead by a run through the next three. The Lady Cats went on to add another run in the top of the fifth to put Coffee County in a 2-0 hole with two innings to go.

After preventing Tullahoma from adding any additional runs in the top of the sixth, the Lady Raiders led off the bottom of the inning with a line drive single from Cara Newlin. Newlin went on to steal second on the next at-bat, before Lily Norman knocked a line drive to center field for a double.

With two runners in scoring position and one out, Haleigh Skipper came to the plate and doubled on a line drive to right. Newlin proceeded to head home from third base before Norman’s courtesy runner Kenzie Shelton followed from second, tying the game at 2-2.

Neither team was able to add another run in the seventh inning, sending the game to extras.

After a scoreless eighth inning, Tullahoma came up empty in the top of the ninth to give Coffee County a chance to close it out.

Ella Arnold got it started with a hit out to center field for a double. Newlin was then intentionally walked on the next at-bat, bringing Raelyn Wainwright to the plate. Wainwright proceeded to ground into a fielder’s choice, leading to Arnold getting tagged out on the way to third. While Arnold was out, an error allowed Newlin to run past third base and make it home for the game-winning run.

“We still have grit, even in the ninth. We don’t have to be winning by seven,” Norman said of team’s ability to come back late. “We can just have grit and stay in the game and be able to come out and win.”

Coffee County posted nine hits over the course of the game, led by Norman with two. Arnold, Newlin, Skipper, Maggie Montgomery, Yeidy Cruz, Kamryn Hoback and Bailey Hale all had one hit each.

Skipper was credited with both of the team’s two RBI.

Norman pitched a complete game, striking out 11 and holding Tullahoma to two hits, two runs and four walks across all nine innings.

Coffee County (4-2) remains at home to host Baylor Wednesday evening. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.