Sam Oleksak felt it. She knew they would win.

And win they did.

The Lady Jackets defeated the Andrews Lady Mustangs two games to one to advance to the Region final against district rival Aledo.

Friday night’s game saw the Lady Jackets combine for 16 hits and an 11-1 win over the Lady Mustangs.

“We knew from scouting reports that if we could start getting hits off her (Lady Mustang pitcher Charli Harris) they would collapse,” first baseman Brittany Braswell said.

Mitchell gave up nine hits to the Lady Jackets before Crystal Molina relieved her in the third.

On Saturday, the Lady Jackets took the field hoping to closeout the series in two, but the Lady Mustangs had other ideas.

Mitchell returned to the mound allowing only two hits through seven innings.

Lady Jacket pitcher Katie Cowan gave up six hits while striking out three in the 2-0 loss.

Cowan said she thinks the music played during game 2 contributed to the loss.

“I’m not saying the music made me give up all those hits, but it sure didn’t help,” she said. “It (the music) was so slow it didn’t pump us up.”

Music didn’t play a factor in game three.

Oleksak didn’t let it. She just felt a win was in the making.

Shutting down the Lady Mustangs in the top of the first, the Lady Jackets found their bats and recorded four runs in their half of the first.

After outfielder Skye Stamey grounded to shortstop Jacy Wellborn to open the inning, Lady Jacket third baseman Amberly Waits singled past second to open the scoring drive. Shortstop Janaye Richardson singled to advance Waits to third after Waits had stolen second base. Oleksak struck out. Cowan then singled to shallow right field scoring Waits. Catcher Bailey Thigpen singled past third allowing Cowan to score from second. The Lady Jackets ended the inning with a 2-0 lead.

It was three up and three down for both sides in the second despite a single by Wellborn to start the inning for the Lady Mustangs.

Cleburne added to their lead in the third when Waits lead off the inning with a triple into left field. Janaye Richardson singled to score Waits. Oleksak tripled bringing in Richardson. Cowan then doubled to score Richardson. Left fielder Jenna Richardson singled but was stranded after Kylie Beard struck out and Braswell flied out to the shortstop.

With a 5-0 lead going into the bottom of the third, the Lady Jackets exploded for four more runs on five hits to take the lead 9-0.

Stamey made it to first base on an error by Wellborn, Waits recorded a bunt single to advance Stamey. Richardson singled bringing in Stamey. Oleksak struck out. Cowan then doubled into left field scoring Waits. Thigpen flied out to the first baseman. Left fielder Jenna Richardson singled into left for an RBI. Beard singled into right, but Jenna Richardson ended the inning when she was put out at the plate.

The fifth inning was much the same for the Lady Mustangs. Cowan struck out third baseman Hailey Harris. First baseman Lacy King popped up to Oleksak and designated player Larissa Falen grounded to Cowan for the final out.

Needing one run to end the game on the 10-run mercy rule, Stamey singled into right-center after Braswell struck out. Waits, who was 4 for 4 in game 3, singled into right. Pitcher Crystal Molina, who relieved Mitchell in the third, walked Janaye Richardson loading the bases. Oleksak popped to the Harris resulting in the umpire evoking the infield fly rule. But Harris dropped the ball. Stamey scord from third for the 10^th and final run.

The Lady Mustang coach protested the run saying that runners can’t advance on an infield fly, but the rule book states runners may advance at their own risk. The call stood and the Lady Jackets walked away with a win and a berth in the Region finals.

Coach Teri Rabi said the team wanted this win badly.

"They want to go to state," she said. "They knew they had to win that last game and they did."

Oleksak knew they would win.

She felt it.

Game 1 Stats: Waits - double and two singles; Jenna Richardson - double and two singles; Stamey and Janaye Richardson- three singles; and Cowan, Braswell and Oleksak - two singles. Cowan gave up two hits and struck out five.

Game 2 Stats: Cowan and Oleksak each singles. Cowan gave up six hits and struck out three.

Game 3 Stats: Waits - triple, three singles; Oleksak - triple; Cowan - two double and one single; Janaye Richardson - three singles; Jenna Richardson - two singles: Beard, Stamey and Thigpen each with one single. Cowan gave up one hits and struck out five.

The Lady Jackets play Aledo for the Region final with the time and date still to be determined.