Daily Leader / Matt Shell / Brookhaven’s Tia Bussey safely slides into second base as West Harrison’s Sydeny-Brooke Sims leaps to make a catch.

The Brookhaven Lady Panthers dropped a best-of-three playoff series to West Harrison Tuesday night, ending the season with a 22-8 record.

The Lady Panthers had evened the series with a 5-1 win, but fell in the final game 6-4.

“Our girls played with tremendous heart and determination tonight,” said BHS coach Mandy Vinson. “We came out in the first game and scored in the first inning and kept rolling to pick up the win. In game two, we had to keep fighting the entire game to stay in it. The girls battled and left it all on the field tonight.”

Brookhaven 5, West Harrison 1

The Lady Panthers had nine hits during the game. Katherine Shell powered the Lady Panthers with a homerun and a single. Tia Bussey contributed three singles. Jadeyn Fuller provided two singles. Hitting safely were Macy Ziskin and Madision Thompson.

West Harrison had six hits in the seven innings contest. Stephanie Necasie lead with two singles. Hitting safely for West Harrison were Kristen Sexton, Jada Walker, Rebecca Cuevas and Shelby Ladner.

Shell was the winning pitcher with no strikeouts and two walks.

Necaise was the losing pitcher with seven strikeouts and two walks.

West Harrison 6, Brookhaven 4 

The Lady Panthers finished with seven hits in the third game.

Tia Bussey directed the Lady Panthers with a triple and a single. Katherine Shell, Kat Wallace, Macy Ziskin, Madision Thompson and Cheyenne Motley hit safely.

West Harrison had six hits. Sydney-Brooke Sims paced the Lady Hurricanes with a double and a single. Hitting safely were Kristen Sexton, Rebecca Cuevas, Stephanie Necaise and Lauren Jackson.

Shell was the losing pitcher with one strikeout and one walk.

Necaise was the winning pitcher with five strikeouts and three walks.

“Katherine had a huge homerun tonight and pitched 13 great innings. Haley Speaks had a good night behind the plate. We will miss the leadership these two have provided for our program,” Vinson said. “I could not be more proud of our girls than I am tonight.”

“On behalf of the team, I am very appreciative to all of the support that has been shown to us this season from the Ole Brook family, school district and community,” said Vinson.