— Athens Bible’s bid for another state softball championship ended Friday morning with a 14-0 loss to two-time defending champions, Ragland. The loss overshadowed what had been a gutsy performance from the Trojans the previous day.

ABS went to 2-1 Thursday, with every game being decided by a single run. After beating Fayetteville in the opening game, Athens Bible was sent to the loser’s bracket with a 4-3 loss to Pleasant Home. ABS led 3-0 through six innings before Pleasant Home rallied in the bottom of the seventh inning to win the game.

In an emotional elimination game, ABS scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings before outlasting Tharptown 5-4 in nine innings. The following is a summary of Athens Bible’s four games at the state tournament Thursday and Friday:

Game 1:

ABS 3, Fayetteville 2

Athens Bible won its opening game against Fayetteville 3-2, scoring all its runs in the first two innings. Anna Stinnett’s RBI single opened the scoring for ABS in the bottom of the second to tie the game 1-1.

The Trojans scored the game winning run in the second inning when Natalie Anderson’s single scored Courtney Etheridge. Melissa Butler had already given ABS a 2-1 lead earlier in the inning when she scored Meredith Guthrie on a sac fly to center field. Fayetteville added a run in the top of the sixth inning, before ABS forced three straight outs to close the game.

Megan Davidson pitched seven innings, striking out 11 batters and giving up four hits in the win.

Game 2:

Pleasant Home 4, ABS 3

Athens Bible lost a heartbreaker in the second game to Pleasant Home, losing a three-run lead in the final inning. ABS led 3-1 entering the bottom of the seventh before Pleasant Home rallied to advance to the championship game.

Natalie Anderson opened the scoring with a single to score Anna Price in the top of the fourth inning for ABS. Melissa Butler and Price added RBI singles the next inning to give Athens Bible a three-run lead. Natalie Anderson, Courtney Etheredge and Price all had two hits in the loss.

Game 3:

ABS 5, Tharptown 4

Playing their third game Thursday night, Athens Bible stayed alive with an extra innings win over Tharptown. Facing elimination, ABS scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the game 4-4 and force extra innings.

After a scoreless eighth inning, ABS scored the winning run when a pitch hit Anna Stinnett. With the bases loaded, Megan Davidson advanced home to win the game 5-4. Andrea George had three hits and two RBIs to lead ABS while Davidson’s double in the bottom of the seventh inning scored Natalie Anderson and George to tie the game.

Game 4:

Ragland 14, ABS 0

Athens Bible were eliminated Friday morning with a five-inning, 14-0 loss to two-time defending champions Ragland. ABS fell behind 7-0 after two innings and never recovered.