AUSTIN--The Collinsville Lady Pirates were stymied by the pitching performance of Clyde Eula's Ashley Hillin in the softball state championship on Saturday, falling 5-0.

Hillin was on her way to a perfect game until Collinsville's Heather Pettiet hit a soft liner to center with two outs in the top of the sixth inning. The senior hurler finished the game with a line of one hit, no walks, and seven strikeouts. She was named the game's MVP.

Eula (also called the Lady Pirates) wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard. Shortstop Courtney Clark led off against Collinsville starter Brentney Swindle with a triple to left and scored on a groundout by Sydnee Lindsey.

Eula scored four runs in the second inning thanks to two singles, a hit batsman, a walk, and an error. By the time Swindle induced a groundout to end the inning, the score was Eula 5, Collinsville 0.

Brittaney Ross took over the pitching duties to start the third inning against Eula and finished the game, giving up no runs on two hits. For Swindle, it was her only loss of the season against 14 wins. The junior lefthander last pitched in game one of the regional finals against Rivercrest but had to leave that game due to a leg injury. In her two innings of work against Eula, she allowed 5 runs (3 earned) on 4 hits.

It was Collinsville's their first trip to the state tournament since 2002, and their first time in school history to advance to the championship game.

Collinsville advanced to the title game thanks to a 9-2 win over Big Sandy on Thursday.

They finished the season with a record of 27-2.

Eula 5, Collinsville 0.

Collinsville 000 000 0 0 1 1

Eula 140 000 x 5 6 0

Brentney Swindle, Brittaney Ross (3) and Amber Farr; Ashley Hillin and Kaitlyn Adams.

W-Hillin (24-4), L-Swindle (14-1). 2B: Eula-Courtney Clark.

3B: Eula-Clark. HR-None.

Records: Collinsville, 27-2. Eula, 27-5.