LUBBOCK — Pushed to the brink of elimination by an emotional Game 1 loss to Canyon on Thursday, the Stephenville baseball team rallied from a 3-1 sixth-inning deficit to defeat the Eagles 5-3 in Game 2 and force a decisive third game Friday at Texas Tech’s Dan Law Field.

But the Yellow Jackets’ postseason magic — and a wildly successful 2024 campaign — ended with the rubber match, as Canyon responded with a 5-4 win in Game 3 to deny Stephenville its second state tournament trip in four years.

The finale, which saw the Eagles score two runs in the bottom of the fifth to break a 3-all tie, closed the books on an intense regional finals series that was ultimately decided by a single run. And in reflecting on the highly competitive three-game set, during which both teams posted identical run totals, SHS coach Justin Swenson said the Eagles were just a little bit cleaner than his team was over the two days in Lubbock.