Middlesboro managed just one hit and one unearned run through five and a half innings, trailing Cawood 3-1.
But as Middlesboro's bats heated up, Cawood gloves went cold and a flurry of Lady Jacket hits and Trojanette errors prevented the upset.
"This team just doesn't focus sometimes," said Middlesboro coach J.W. Campbell. "I could have told you it was going to be like that before they ever took the field."
Middlesboro scored nine runs in two innings with only four hits. Cawood committed seven errors, including five during Middlesboro's decisive run.
But despite his team's defensive mishaps, Trojanette coach Jim Johnson downplayed the errors, focusing instead on his team's offensive woes in the second half of the game.
"I don't think (the errors) hurt us as much as, we came out strong in the first two innings and then we hit a dead spot," he said. "Everybody is going to make errors, but you've got to put runs on the board.
"Yeah, we had some errors, but if he had hit in the third, fourth and fifth innings like we did in the first two and the last one, it's a different ballgame."
Cawood did get off to an early start as Tiffany Posey drew a one-out walk in the first inning, stole second and scored on Courtney Bolin's single into short right field.
Middlesboro starter Brooklynn Jimison struck out Courtney Lewis swinging, but Erica Pennington followed with a single into right field. Bolin was waved home and Brittany Williams' throw was well wide of the plate as Bolin scored standing up, giving the Trojanettes a 2-0 lead.
"We've played Middlesboro twice and the first time we lost 7-0 and then they beat us 15-0 at our place," said Jones. "I thought we came out and played well."
"Cawood can really play," said Campbell. "I think they took the approach that they had nothing to lose and they played well. They put the bat on it."
Middlesboro closed the gap to one in the second with the help of the first Cawood error. Jerica Ogle hit a one-out single through the left side of the infield and then stole second. Brandon Anderson grounded to Lewis at shortstop, but her throw pulled Chuckie Drew, who dove to reign in the ball, off the bag at first, allowing Ogle to score.
Cawood got the run back in the third with the help of a Middlesboro error. Brittany Hatmaker reached as third baseman Daven Hart mishandled her bunt and scored when Denna Burkhart doubled deep to right center a few pitches later.
The score remained 3-1 through the third as Middlesboro got leadoff hitter Brittany Williams on with an error, but stranded her at second, and through the fourth as the lady Jackets stranded a pair of runners.
The wheels started coming off for Cawood as a walk, single and hit batter loaded the bases with one out.
Ogle provided the biggest hit of the game as she lifted a Pennington offering into left field. A strong wind carried the ball over the fielder's head and to the fence, giving Ogle a base-clearing triple and Middlesboro a 4-3 lead.
"She has really stepped up the last two or three weeks," said Campbell of his junior catcher. "That was a monster hit right there. It probably turned the game totally around."
Rebecca Yeary followed with a grounder to short, but Lewis couldn't handle it as Ogle scored and then threw the ball past Pennington into foul territory, allowing Yeary to take second.
Center fielder Denna Burkhart made a nice catch on Anderson's deep fly ball for the second out of the inning, but Hart followed with an RBI single past second to stretch Middlesboro lead to 6-3.
Jimison racked up two of her 12 strikeouts as she retired the side in order in the sixth, and Middlesboro promptly continued its rally.
Brown reached on a one-out error and scored on Jimison's double into right center. Gilbert was hit by a pitch and one run scored when Ogle reached on another error. After a strikeout and a walk, Pennington appeared to be out of the inning when Hart lifted a fly into left field, but the ball bounced out of Brittany Hatmaker's glove as she tried to make a running catch, allowing two more runs to score.
Cawood tried to rally in the seventh, but came up short. Brandi Hensley singled up the middle with one out. Taylor Curtis followed with a walk, but Ogle threw down to second as Hensley broke for the bag. Her throw got past Brown, allowing Hensley to advance to third.
Drew followed with a run-scoring single into right field and Burkhart belted a two-run single up the middle to make it a four-run game.
Jimison finally got Tiffany Posey to line out to Williams in right to end the game.
Cawood ends its season with a 8-13 record, but Jones has high hopes for the future with all nine starters returning.
"We've only got one senior and she plays sparingly," he said. "They ought to be a powerhouse next year."
Middlesboro (23-7) advances to take on host Rockcastle County in the semifinals today.
"If we don't play different (Tuesday) it will be ugly," said Campbell. "We've got to play better, especially at the offensive side. We've got to have more intensity early."
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Cawood 201 000 0 - 3 6 7
Middlesboro 010 054 x - 10 5 3
Pennington and Hensley; Jimison and Ogle. W-Jimison. L-Pennington.
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