All streaks must come to an end, but Warren County Middle School softball coach Gooby Martin probably would’ve liked his Lady Pioneers to finish the season stronger than it did Wednesday.
After winning 10 straight games, the Lady Pioneers fell in both games of a doubleheader at Franklin North on the final day of the regular season. Warren County lost 3-2 in the opening game and dropped the second game 5-0 to fall to 17-5 overall this season.
Carrying a long winning streak into the Central Tennessee Conference tournament would’ve made the Lady Pioneers one of the favorites, but now Warren County will be recovering from back-to-back losses for only the second time this season. Coffee County also swept the Lady Pioneers in a series March 11 and 13.
Warren County fell behind 2-0 in the first inning of Wednesday’s first game, only to rally back to tie in the third inning. A double by Emily Mikkola scored Hope Mullican and Kyra Hillis added an RBI single to knot the score.
Any momentum the Lady Pioneers picked up in the third inning was erased in the bottom of the frame when the home team took the lead again, and this time for good. Franklin North picked up a run on an infield single and it was just enough as Warren County stranded the tying run on third base in the top of the fifth.
Mullican took the loss in the first game as she threw four innings and allowed three runs on six hits while striking out five and walking one. Mikkola and Hillis each finished with two hits as they were the only Lady Pioneers to get hits.
The offensive struggles continued in game two as Warren County was shut out for only the third time this season. Franklin North scored three runs in the first inning and two more in the second to secure its second win over the Lady Pioneers.
Maddie Cantrell took the loss as she allowed five runs on two hits while striking out seven and walking three.  Mullican finished with two hits in the loss while Mikkola had one.
Warren County won’t know its first opponent in the CTC tournament until Saturday, but the Lady Pioneers are likely to start their title defense Tuesday in Tullahoma.