Even though Jenna Abbott's pitching performance should have been enough in itself for Dawson County to win Tuesday, it was her timely hitting in the eighth inning that proved the difference in Gainesville.
Abbott, a junior, finished with a career-high 19 strike outs and allowed only one hit.
However, the difference in the game was the fly ball she hit that was missed by the Lady Vikings' left fielder and scored Morgan Huber from second, leading the Lady Tigers (8-1, 2-0 Region 8A-AA) to a 1-0 win in eight innings at East Hall Park.
"When I got up to bat in the eighth, I told myself we are not going to lose this game," Abbott said.
Huber started the top of the eighth inning on second base in accordance to the international tie-breaker rule.
Even though Abbott (6-1 on the season) had her best night of the season, East Hall's Harlee Grogan also pitched the first seven innings without allowing a run.
Dawson County put a runner in scoring position in each of the first five innings, but Grogan pitched around it with some help from her defense without allowing any runs.
Using a screwball exclusively, Abbott struck out the first 11 hitters she faced against the Lady Vikings (5-4-1, 1-1) and retired the first 12 batters in order.
East Hall broke up the no-hit bid with a lead-off double by Holly Strickland in the fifth inning.
After the Lady Vikings started catching up to some of Abbott's pitches, she mixed in her drop curve, which was just as effective.
"Jenna's been so dominant right now that we feel good every time she goes out in the pitching circle," Dawson County coach Jim Pruett said.
"She (Abbott) lives off the outside pitch because she knows high school girls are afraid of it," East Hall coach Jenny Crow said. "And she just gets better as the game goes along."
Meanwhile, Grogan kept Dawson County off the board in the first inning with a pair of solid defensive plays, including a diving catch by Kali Turner and another in the outfield by Chelsea Miller.
Grogan's most clutch inning was in the fourth when Dawson County loaded the bases.
Grogan retired the final out of the inning with an inside pitch that the batter hit off the handle for an easy pop fly back to the circle.
Gracie Hovan had a sharply hit single for Dawson County in the second inning and moved to second on a walk that loaded the bases.
Grogan finished the game with four strike outs and allowed four hits.
"Overall, we played great defense and Harlee hit her spots," Crow said. "Harlee is a very optimistic person and grows with every pitch."
Abbott had a two-out double for Dawson County in the first inning, and Kim Wallace doubled with two outs in the seventh for the Lady Tigers.
East Hall visits Banks County, and Dawson County visits Union County at 5:55 Tuesday.