MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — It's been a tough couple of days for the Lady Hurricanes.

The East Hamilton girls fought to a 3-3 tie with Maryville Thursday before heavy rain forced a postponement with the bases full of Lady Rebels with no outs. When the game resumed Friday morning, Maryville picked up a game winning single to take a 4-3 win.

From there East Hamilton (30-7 ) defeated Summit, 5-0, and weathered delays, field and schedule changes to earn the right to face Maryville (33-11) once again in the 4A softball semifinal.

Once again the Lady 'Canes fought to the finish before history repeated itself with another 4-3 victory by the Rebels. Maryville will face Stewarts Creek in the title game Friday at Cedar Stone Park, in Smyrna.

“They gave everything they had. They went down, but they didn't quit. They kept fighting and kept wanting it,” said Hurricanes coach Norma Nelson. “I told them the good guys were supposed to win, but for some reason the good guys didn't win today.”

The Rebels started off in a big way scoring first on a home run over the left-field fence off the bat of Isabella Saunders.

East Hamilton retaliated in the top of the third.

Kailyn Mendoza reached on a fielder's choice followed by a swinging bunt off the bat of Alana Johnson putting runners on first and second. Poschke, the beneficiary of the fielder's choice, made her way to third and tied the game racing home on a wild pitch. Kat Woody gave the 'Canes the lead with a double to right scoring Johnson.

East Hamilton made it 3-1 in the upper half of the fourth as Bri Nichols singled and later scored on a Poschke single.

The Rebels answered in the bottom of the inning with a double, single and a walk that loaded the bases. A single and sacrifice fly tied the game at 3-3. Maryville took the lead with a two out RBI single that made it a 4-3 game.

The 'Canes put runners on in the fifth, sixth and loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh. A pair of throws to home for force outs and a final force out at second gave the win to the Rebels.

“It's been tough, they have worked hard and have done everything they could possibly do. It just didn't work out,” said Nelson.

EAST HAMILTON     002 100 0 — 3 10 3

MARYVILLE              100 300 x — 4    9 1

Davis and Farris; Johnson and LeMaster.

WP: Sadie Johnson LP: Emmaline Davis HR: Isabella Saunders (M) 2B: Woody (EH); Allie Watson (M). HIGHLIGHTS: Poschke 2-1 RS RBI, Alana Johnson 2-4 RS, Bri Nichols RS, Rose Whisman 102 (EH); Saunders 2-3 RS 2RBI, Ava Mples 2-3, Allie Watson RS, Emily Lemaster 1-2, Macey Hemphill RS (M). RECORDS: East Hamilton 30-7; Maryville 33-11.