The red-hot Abilene High softball team found itself a strike away from knocking off first-place Lubbock Monterey on Thursday at the AHS softball field. But an 0-2 single by Makayla Perez extended the game for Rylee O’Brien, who sent the first pitch she saw over the fence in left to lift the Lady Plainsmen to an improbable 4-2 victory over the Lady Eagles.

Perez’s home run spoiled what had otherwise been a remarkable performance for Abilene High starter Diana Silva, who shut out Monterey (24-4-1 overall, 9-0 in District 4-5A) through the first five innings and allowed just three hits through the first six.

The gut-wrenching loss dropped AHS to 22-5 on the year and 6-3 in District 4-5A action, pushing them a half-game behind Wylie () for third in the league standings.