GRAFORD – The District 8-3A champion Early Lady Horns’ backs are to the wall following a 7-4 loss to District 7-3A fourth seed Jacksboro Thursday night in Game 1 of their Region I-3A softball bi-district playoff series.

Games 2 and 3, if needed, will take place in Early beginning at 6:30 p.m. Saturday

Early (26-5-2) fell behind Jacksboro (22-11) by a 4-0 count in the bottom of the first inning and never recovered. Jacksboro tacked on another run in the fourth inning and two more in the fifth inning to push the lead to seven runs. The Lady Horns attempted to rally with three runs in the sixth and added a fourth in the seventh, but the comeback fell short.

The Lady Horns finished with seven hits – three by Teagan Lopez, who drove in a run; and one apiece by Stoney Laughlin, Grace LaRue, Jordan Simmons and Aubrey Greaves, who knocked in a run with a double.

In the circle, Lopez and LaRue combined to yield five earned runs on 11 hits with five strikeouts and one walk. The Early defense committed four errors behind them.

The series winner will face either District 5 runner-up Llano or District 6 third seed Clyde next weekend in the area round.