OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - In a sport that measures offensive success 60 feet at a time, Wednesday's consolation round game between no. 8 seed Highland Community College (17-26) and no. 5 seed Labette Community College (20-24) came down to just three inches, as the Scotties were unable to finish off the seventh-inning bases-loaded comeback. HCC fell by a 7-4 margin to the Cardinals, ending the Scotties' run in the NJCAA Plains District Championship.

Labette opened the game with a pair of runs in the top of the first, but Highland was able to cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the frame with speedy baserunning. After Emma Doleshal drew a leadoff walk, Taylor Johnson's speed to first thwarted a double play, as Labette's shortstop was only able to make the toss to second. Hailey Horton crushed a shot deep into left center, giving Johnson the opportunity to round all three bases and easily slide around the tag at the plate.

After threatening in the bottom of the second, Highland retired the Cardinals in order in the top of the third, with Alaryce Millard recording back-to-back strikeouts to close the inning.

The Cardinals found a bit of good fortune in the top of the fourth, as Hailey Presley was able to catch a gust of wind for a leadoff homer to center to extend the gap to 3-1. Labette added another run in the fifth and two more in the sixth to stretch to a five-run margin.

Having started the contest for Highland, Millard pitched in to help her own cause at the plate in the bottom of the sixth, capitalizing on a one-out double by Makenzie Leake with a first pitch bomb to straightaway center that helped chase Labette starter Lily Beery from the game. After a single by Mia Gomez and a walk by Mya King, Libby Puga came in to pinch hit but wasn't able to successfully advance Gomez.

The Cardinals managed to scratch out another run in the top of the seventh, but Highland was far from surrendering. Johnson laced a one-out single through the left side and a Horton walk put two runners aboard. Leake's long fly to right was chased down by LCC's Caitlyn Suhrie, but Millard kept the rally going with a looper to left that scored Johnson and brought Highland within arm's reach at 7-4.

After Gomez drew a walk to load the bases, King stepped to the plate with the game in the balance for Highland. After working to a 3-1 count, King connected with a pitch and sent it screaming up the middle. With the runners on the move, it looked as though the Scotties would score at least one, but a diving Mattison Hamilton was able to get her glove behind the ball for Labette. The shortstop scrambled to her feet and tossed to second base for the final out.

Millard recorded her seventh complete game of the season for Highland in the loss, recording five strikeouts and not allowing a single walk. The Scotties finish the 2025 season with a record of 17-26 along with a 9-13 mark in KJCCC play.