JACKSON - The Cross Creek Lady Razorbacks knocked the Liberty County Lady Panthers out of the Class AAA state softball tournament with a 9-8 victory in the loser’s bracket at the Jackson super regional Monday evening.

Liberty fell into the loser’s bracket after losing 15-0 to the host Red Devils in the first game. Payton Proman drew a one-out walk in the first inning, but Jackson pitcher Mackenzie North retired the next eight batters, the last three by strikeout.

Jackson led just 1-0 after two innings but sent 17 batters to the plate in the third inning, collecting 11 hits. North delivered a back-breaking three-run homer during the rally, and Macey Batchelor’s RBI double ended the game.

Tenison Myricks had a triple and a double for Jackson, while Layla Watts had a double and a single and Maddie Batchelor went 3-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Macey Batchelor was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, Bailey Gavel had a double and drove in two runs, Madeline West was 2-for-2 with a double and two RBIs and Cassie Glover added a two-run double.

Jackson, the Class AAA state runner-up a year ago, earned the super regional berth in Columbus. After a 14-0 win over Crisp County in the winner’s bracket finale, Jackson was pushed to a winner-take-all game when the Lady Cougars posted an 11-0 victory. Jackson beat Crisp 8-0 in the finale.