STEPHENVILLE — Playing with their backs against the wall after dropping the opener of their Region I-5A Division I semifinal series against North Richland Hills Richland by a narrow 1-0 margin on Thursday, the Abilene High Lady Eagles responded with a historic effort Friday at the Stephenville softball field.

After staving off elimination with a hard-fought 3-0 win in Game 2, coach Jenna Aguirre’s squad pulled away for a 9-1 victory in the deciding third game to advance to the regional finals for the first time ever as a program.

The doubleheader sweep ends a painful regional semifinals history for AHS, which had fallen in that round six times previously, including each of the past two years. And perhaps more importantly, it gives the Lady Eagles a chance and their first state run if they can knock off Aledo for the Region I-5A DI title next week.