***Kendall Vincent is a participant of The Kewanee Voice Student Journalism Program, funded by the Harry Anderson Memorial Trust.

The Annawan/Wethersfield Titans came up just short on Tuesday in a hard-fought battle, falling 6-5 to the ROWVA/Williamsfield Cougars after a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh by Eliza Tucker sealed the win.

The Cougars got on the board early, scoring two runs in the first inning off a single from Emma West. The Titans responded in the top of the third, tying the game at two following an error and an RBI single by Lauren Davis.

Annawan/Wethersfield took control in the fourth inning, capitalizing on a pair of walks to Clara Bella VanOpdorp and Madison Smith, along with a defensive error by the Cougars, to score three runs and take a 5-2 lead.

ROWVA/Williamsfield rallied in the final inning. Llylah Shaffer scored on a sacrifice fly, and Tucker’s single to center brought in the winning run, completing the late comeback.

Tucker earned the win for the Cougars, throwing three scoreless innings in relief, allowing four hits and striking out five. Davis took the loss for the Titans despite a strong showing, pitching six and two-thirds innings and giving up just three earned runs on 10 hits while striking out seven.

ROWVA/Williamsfield’s starter, Hannah Gehring, struck out eight over four innings, giving up five runs (two earned) on two hits and seven walks.

Wavelynn Peart led the Titans offensively, going 2-for-3. Smith, VanOpdorp, and Davis each added an RBI, and the Titans showed patience at the plate, drawing nine walks, with Smith and VanOpdorp each earning two.

The Cougars tallied 10 hits in total, with Ella Rigg, Tieler Williams-Fouts, Emma West, and Riley Smith each collecting two. Williams-Fouts and West both drove in a pair of runs.