Vicki Blakley|Harlan Daily Enterprise Middlesboro senior Kelsie Hensley heads down the first base line as Harlan pitcher Madison Noe comes up throwing after fielder her bunt. Hensley reached on an error and scored a run during in Friday's 4-3 Lady Jacket win.

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John Middleton

Harlan Daily Enterprise

Harlan’s second district contest looked a lot like its first. After nearly digging themselves out of an early deficit in a one-run loss to Bell County on Monday, the Harlan Lady Dragons’ rallied again on Friday before falling 4-3 to the visiting Middlesboro Lady Jackets.

The Lady Dragons fell behind by four runs in the first inning.

Middlesboro’s Megan Prater and Kelsie Hensley both reacehd on errors to start the inning. Lauren Spurlock drew a walk to load the bases. Prater and Hensley both scored when Carissa Padgett advance to first on an error in the outfield. Savanna Miracle drove in Spurlock with a single and Laura Durham later scored the final run of the inning.

“The first inning was the difference in the game. We had three youthful errors, that we are unfortunately still making,” said Harlan coach Scott Lewis. “We settled down after the first and the girls got their feet under them a little bit.”

Harlan made it 4-1 with a run in the third inning.

Shanae Thomas reached base on a single. Thomas stole second and scored on a double from Anna Karst.

The Lady Dragons closed to within one with a pair of runs in the sixth inning. Madison Noe started the offense witha single. Karst followed with her second hit of the day. Noe and Karst both scored when Torri Mitchell reached on a throwing error to first. However, that was as close as the Lady Dragons got, and Middlesboro held on for the win.

Karst had a double and a single to pace the Lady Dragons at the plate. Noe, Thomas and Heather Holland each added a single.

Savanna Mircale delivered a pair of singles to power Middlesboro. Prater, Makayla Partin and Padgett each added a single.

Partin recorded nine strikeouts, while allowing five hits in the complete-game victory on the mound. Noe struck out four batters in a complete-game effort for the Lady Dragons.

Harlan (5-5) returns to action today at home against Letcher Central, while Middlesboro (7-1) will host Clay County.

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Middlesboro…400 000 0 — 4 5 2

Harlan………..001 002 0 — 3 5 7

Partin and Durham; Noe and Jenkins. WP — Partin. LP — Noe.