Phillips' late heroics send Southwest to 5A state softball tourney - mySanAntonio.com

SAN ANTONIO — Everything appeared to be slipping from the Southwest softball team's grasp — a lead, the momentum and more importantly, its dream of advancing to the UIL Class 5A state tournament.

With two swings and one throw, outfielder Elizabeth Phillips brought it all back together.

Phillips' RBI single was the last of her three late heroic plays as Southwest outlasted San Marcos 8-7 on Saturday in eighth innings in a decisive Game 3 of the Region IV-5A final before 1,600 at St. Mary's University.

The Dragons (35-10) advanced to the state tournament for the first time. They will be joined by Deer Park, The Woodlands and Lubbock Coronado.

Pairings for the state semifinals will be announced Sunday.

“It's my senior year, and I told my team — win or lose — I was going to leave it all on the field,” Phillips said. “I knew that if I didn't do it now, than I wouldn't ever be able to do it.”

Trailing 7-5 and with two outs in the sixth, Phillips laced the first pitch she saw for a two-run triple to tie it at 7-7.

In the bottom of the seventh, with a runner at second and two outs, Phillips threw out a runner who would’ve scored the game-winner at home, extending the game to extra innings.

In the top of the eighth, she drilled a 0-2 pitch for an RBI single to put the Dragons ahead for good. San Marcos (32-11) loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth but came away empty as Kamerie Vidales, the winner pitcher, coaxed a fly out for the final out.

“There was a little doubt in my mind, but not in theirs,” Southwest coach Sandra Hernandez said of the final inning. “And theirs are the ones that mattered.”

The Rattlers rallied from a 5-2 deficit with a five-run third inning, highlighted by Vianey Villalpando's three-run home run. The outburst came on the heels of Southwest extending its lead to 5-2 on Vidales' two-run double.

Southwest led 3-0 in the top of the first when Kayla Arguello's three-run home run to left-center field.

tthomas@express-news.net

Twitter: @mysahighschools

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