Ilwaco 8th grader Emily Morris (11) bats against Warrenton.

ILWACO — Lower Columbia softball bragging rights were on the line Monday in a non-district matchup between Ilwaco and Warrenton, where the Warriors were able to escape Long Beach with a 9-5 win in a back-and-forth-battle over a determined Lady Fishermen team.

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After Warrenton jumped to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, Ilwaco answered with two runs of their own thanks to an RBI single by senior Lindsy Agee followed by a successful sacrifice bunt by Makenzee Graff, knotting the game 2-2.

Both teams matched runs through the first three innings, battling to a 4-4 tie in the top of the 4th inning, where Ilwaco replaced junior starting pitcher Justyce Patana with junior Olivia McKinstry. McKinstry was solid in relief, however Ilwaco failed to respond offensively, as Warrenton tallied two runs aided by an error, taking a 6-4 lead in the 5th inning. Warrenton continued to tack on runs each inning, building a 9-4 advantage in the seventh, where an Ilwaco rally succumbed after one run, ending in a 9-5 Warrior victory.

Up next: Ilwaco (2-10) will next face Naselle in a doubleheader scheduled for 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Friday, April 29 in Long Beach.