Trailing 2-0 after four innings, Warren junior Alana Stuart smashed a two-run home run — her ninth of the season — to tie the score. After Emma Gray and Malysia Sorensen followed with base hits, Alanna Warrior’s two-out bloop single over short capped a four-run bottom of the fifth, and Warren held on over McDowell (8-4 in Region 5).

“I told the girls to not give up today and they didn’t and we came away with a big win,” said Warren coach Carissa Stuart, whose Dragons are 6-10 overall and finished 5-7 in the region. They suffered a 14-0 loss to the Trojans on April 18. “The season didn’t start the way we wanted it to, but they’re seeing what they’re capable of. We still have work to do offensively. With playoffs right around the corner, we need to be prepared for good pitching.”

Warren had seven hits — all from the first five hitters. Alana Stuart was 3 for 3 (for the second straight day) with a single, double and game-tying blast. She’s reached base in 10 straight at-bats over three games.

In the pitching circle, Alana Stuart gave up two runs on two hits through the first two innings, but only allowed one more hit the rest of the game. After 15 strikeouts at Girard on Monday, she struck out 12 McDowell batters in the three-hit complete-game win.

Warren pitcher Alana Stuart prepares to tag McDowell’s Chloe Shattuck out at the plate. Photo by Mark Evans

After the first batter of the top of the seventh reached on an error, “Emma and Malysia came up with a huge double play for us,” said Coach Stuart.

“That play kept us at the bottom of their lineup to close out the game,” Stuart added. “They are both excellent fielders and they showed it tonight.”

After the 4-6-3 double play, Alana Stuart struck out the last batter of the game with the bases empty.

“She crushed it two days in a row,” said Coach Stuart of Alana. “Today was a lot, but she wanted it. She loves the challenge and she did it. Very proud of her.

“Alexis Jones is playing great behind the plate as well,” she added. “Her hustle and game awareness, and battery with Alana, just keeps getting stronger every game.”

Warren’s Alana Stuart rips a double during a 4-2 Region 5 win over McDowell on Tuesday at Lady Dragons Field. Photo by Mark Evans