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The Lady Raiders fended off not only the weather, but also the Nolensville Knights in a 9-1 decision at Terry Floyd Field on Monday night to advance in the 4A Region 5 Tournament.

Coffee County not only avenged an 11-3 loss to the Knights back on March 8 of this season, but also a 10-4 loss in last year’s Region Semifinals.

The Lady Raiders got off to a good start defensively, collecting three quick outs after walking the Knights’ first batter, Jaycee Bilbrey.

As the threatening skies opened up over Terry Floyd Field, so did the scoring for the Lady Raiders in the bottom half of the first inning. Ella Arnold and Savannah Cooper each got on base with a walk and a bunt respectively, and the lethal bat of Paisley Campbell sent in both runners to give the Lady Raiders a 2-0 lead.

For the next two innings, the Lady Raiders backed up a three up, three down defensive half by scoring one run in the offensive half. Haleigh Skipper scored in the bottom of the second on a ground out by Ella Arnold and Lily Norman hit a solo home run to left field in the bottom of the third to up Coffee County’s lead to 4-0.

Nolensville managed their first base hit in the top of the fourth inning on a fly ball single by Eva Armstrong, but the Knights remained scoreless leaving the top half of the fourth. 

After nearly an hour and a half of delays due to storms, the game resumed in the bottom half of the fourth inning, where the potent Lady Raider offense scored a total of four times to double their lead to 8-0, two runs of which came courtesy of a single by Jalyn Moran.

The Knights finally broke through on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth inning on a solo home run by Peyton Viera, but Paisley Campbell matched that with a solo shot of her own in the bottom half of the sixth to make the score 9-1.

Coffee County’s defense held service in the top of the seventh and sealed the victory.

Box Score:

NOL: 000 001 0 – 1 2 1

COF: 211 401 x – 9 13 0

Coffee County: Ella Arnold 1-for-3, Savannah Cooper 1-for-4, Paisley Campbell 3-for-4, Jalyn Moran 1-for-4, Lily Norman 2-for-4, Raelyn Wainwright 0-for-1, Maggie Montgomery 0-for-2, Haleigh Skipper 2-for-3, Taylor McBride 3-for-3, Kyndal Bolden 0-for-1.

HR: Lily Norman 1(5), Paisley Campbell 1(10).

RBI: Paisley Campbell 3(43), Jalyn Moran 2(17), Lily Norman 1(20), Ella Arnold 1(17), Savannah Cooper 1(15).

2B: Paisley Campbell 1(12)

SB: Ella Arnold 1(9), Savannah Cooper 1(2).

Starter: Lily Norman (7.0IP, 2H, 1R, 1BB, 5SO)

Up Next: The Lady Raiders advance to the 4A Region 5 Championship Game on Wednesday, May 14, which will take place at Page. The District 10 Champion Patriots will be coming off of a 9-7 victory over Lincoln County in the other Region Semifinal game. Coffee County does not need a win to keep their season alive, but a win would guarantee home-field advantage in the Sectionals.