By DREW GRANTHUM/Sports Editor

ALABASTER — Despite a strong defensive and pitching effort, the Thompson Warriors softball team’s season came to an end May 2, following a second loss in the AHSAA Class 6A, Area 7 softball tournament.

Runs were hard to come by in the opening matchup between Thompson High and Stanhope Elmore, as both squads put on a defensive clinic.

Unfortunately for the Mustangs, they were a little harder to come by as Thompson took the 1-0 win.

The lone run of the game came in the bottom of the first. Haley Crumpton singled with two outs to reach base. Lauren Haskins came on as a courtesy runner for Crumpton and proceeded to steal second based. Haskins then came around to score on a Sarah Beth Holdbrooks double to right to put the Warriors up 1-0.

From there, it became a pitcher’s duel, as neither squad allowed a run for the rest of the contest.

Crumpton pitched a gem on the mound, going all seven innings. She surrendered 11 hits, walking just one and striking out eight.

In the second game, Thompson again engaged in a pitcher’s duel. Unfortunately for the Warriors, they found themselves on the wrong side of it. Despite four hits in the contest, Thompson fell 1-0.

Holdbrooks went 2-for-3 in the contest was on second when the final out was recorded. Crumpton went all seven innings. She surrendered no earned runs, giving up just two hits, one walk and recorded 11 strikeouts.

With the season at stake, the Warriors engaged in yet another pitcher’s duel, this time a marathon of one. In a 12-inning contest that saw a combined 17 strikeouts —with all but two coming from Crumpton— the Warriors came up short, 1-0.

The Indians scored in the top of the 12^th. Thompson was unable to tie, and the Indians took the win and the right to advance to the regional tournament.

Despite the loss, Crumpton pitched another strong effort, going all 12 innings. She surrendered one earned run on eight hits, walking one and striking out 15.

Thompson finished its season 27-17-3.