LIVE OAK, Fla. — One step away from Fort Myers and the Final Four, Lafayette saw its season come to an end in extra innings Thursday. 

The Hornets fell 2-1 in eight innings to Madison County. It was the second straight season LHS lost a regional final to the Cowboys in walk-off fashion. 

“That was a heck of a ballgame. Games like this come down to one play and they made one more than we did,” said Lafayette coach Tim Hanson.

With two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Dustin Bass singled home Dylan Bass for the game-winning run. Dylan Bass slid in safely on a close play at the plate.

Lafayette’s Chi Chi Purcell and Madison County’s Dilan Lawson dominated on the mound to keep it a low-scoring game. Purcell finished with 14 strikeouts in 6 2-3 innings pitched. He struck out eight straight hitters at one point, using pinpoint location along with a good changeup and curveball.  

The only run Purcell allowed came in the second inning on a Jay Mitchell home run. 

Lawson got out of a tough situation in the the top of the second that proved to be the difference in the game. After Purcell and Kerby Hanson reached base to start the inning, Lafayette was set up with two runners in scoring position, no outs and a golden opportunity.  

Lawson then retired the next two hitters and ended up allowing just one run. 

“We had our chances to score,” Tim Hanson said. “Sometimes you get amped us as a hitter and don’t swing at the best pitch. We left some hits out there we should have got.”  

Holden Richardson and Dylan Mock had two hits apiece for Lafayette (15-9). Madison County (16-11) moves on to play Trenton in a state semifinal.

Box score

Richardson — 2-3, BB

Mock — 2-3, HBP — 1 inning pitched, 2 strikeouts, 1 unearned run

Purcell — 6 2-3 innings pitched, 14 strikeouts, 1 run

Hanson — 1-3

Severance — 1-3, RBI