The FMS Lady Rockets swept their first four games at the Lady Bulldog Classic in Columbia on Saturday before falling 5-2 in the championship game to Spring Station.

The loss to the Thompson Station squad in the title tilt was the first setback for Forrest (13-1) this season.

"We just came up against a good hitting ballclub and we just couldn't close that two-run deficit," said FMS head coach Bunky Elmore. "I told the girls there are a lot of teams that would be proud to get that second place trophy, Liberty and Summertown included, so we can't be ashamed of what we did, we worked hard and played hard all day long."

Opening games

In game one of pool play, FMS beat Heritage Middle School 5-3 with Daelyn Dowers picking up the win in the circle for the Lady Rockets, tossing three innings of six-hit ball.

Brook Paul, Erin Septer (RBI), Morgan Hill (RBI), Grace Thrasher (RBI), Dowers (two RBIs), and Natalie Lampley all had one hit apiece for the Lady Rockets.

In game two, FMS thrashed Liberty 8-0 with Jordan Yelensky tossing a two-hitter and striking out five Lady Patriots in a three-inning shutout win in the circle.

FMS banged out nine hits with Yelensky (RBI), Paul (two RBIs), and Ricky Gayle Carter (four RBIs) all notching two hits apiece.

Jasmine Runk, Emma Stacey, and Chloe Bruce all managed a base hit apiece in the win for FMS.

In the first bracket game, FMS took on Heritage again and brought out the heavy lumber, plus a no-hitter by Mays in the circle for a 10-0 shellacking over the Hornets.

Mays struck three and walked one in the no-no, while going a perfect 3-3 at the plate with three runs scored for FMS, who scored three times in the first, four in the second, and three more in the third.

King also had a 3-3 game at the dish and drove home one, while Hengesbach went 2-2 with a base on balls and 3 RBIs.

Stacey and Carter had the other two hits for Forrest in the contest.

Semifinals

It was on to the semifinals for FMS in a battle versus Summertown, who outlasted Liberty in extra innings to gain the bid.

King started in the circle for the Lady Rockets and escaped a two-on, two-out jam in the first inning.

Madison Koenig started in the circle for Summertown, and after getting the first two outs in the bottom of the first, Hengesbach laced a single to center and stole second.

King delivered a base hit to right field, putting Lady Rockets on the corners.

Micayla Feller came on to run for King at first and Feller followed Hengesbach home moments later when Carson Warner drilled a triple into the left field corner, making it 2-0.

There was no scoring in the second inning and King shut down Summertown in the top of the third.

In the home half of the inning, Yelensky slashed a one-out single to center and came home when Hengesbach smashed an RBI double to center.

King came up and helped her own cause, providing an insurance run by knocking in Hengesbach with an RBI double.

In the top of the fourth, Summertown mounted a comeback, breaking King's shutout attempt with an RBI base hit by Haley Durham, followed by an unearned run to make it 4-2 before King slammed the door with a game-ending strikeout to clinch a slot in the title game versus Spring Station.

Title clash

After the game, Taylor Patin, Hengesbach, King, and Mays all chimed in regarding the Summertown win and the upcoming title game.

"It feels awesome to be on this roll, we never give up and never let up," said the group of spirited Lady Rockets. "We wanted to play Liberty because we knew what they had, but playing Summertown was fun too. This is what it all comes down to, we are so proud of all the Lady Rockets and what we have accomplished so far."

The Lady Rockets took a 13-0 record into the title game and jumped out to a 1-0 first inning lead as Mays led off the game with a single, and once again as she has done all season, Yelensky sacrificed Mays to second.

After a ground ball out, King drilled an RBI single through the hole at short to make it 1-0.

Mays set down the Lady Mustangs 1-2-3 in the bottom of the first and Spring Station hurler Taylor Turner came away unscathed in the top of the second.

In the bottom of the inning, Spring Station scored four times on three hits and one FMS error.

The big blow in the frame came from Shelby Pernig, who laced a two-run triple, capping off the four-run rally.

There was no scoring in the third inning, and in the top of the fourth, Forrest displayed the no-quit attitude they had talked about.

No quitting

Paul drilled a one-out single to right field to get things going for FMS and Carter moved Paul to second on a bunt.

Paul scampered to third on a passed ball before Morgan Hill came up to pinch hit and drew a base on balls.

Stacey re-entered to run for Hill, before Runk came through with an RBI single, legging out an infield hit and Mays came to the plate with two outs and runners on first and second.

Mays laced a laser to left and Elmore waved Stacey home, but the throw from left fielder Autumn Andrews was perfect, beating Stacey to the plate and the game ended on the out tag.

"It's a good lesson for us, it hurts to lose, but I think this will send us the momentum to finish the season strong," said Elmore.

Paul and Mays both had two hits in the game, while Yelensky, Runk, and King provided the other two base knocks in the contest.