The Pike Lady Patriots closed out the regular season with a 2-1 win over Macon East in Montgomery on Thursday.

“We played a really good ball game,” said Patriots head coach Robert Rollan. “The first time we played Macon East they beat us 15-0. I told them win, lose or draw we are going to walk off this field earning their respect. They did that.”

The Patriots scored two runs in the seventh inning to get the win.

Amanda Finlayson began the inning with a base hit down the line. Sam Yarbrough followed that up with a double, advancing Finlayson to third base. Danielle Brown singled in Finlayson and Callee Jinright and Mallory Clifton walked with the bases loaded to drive in the winning run.

Yarbrough pitched all seven innings, allowing one run on three hits and striking out nine batters.

The Patriots (26-20) now turn their sights to the state tournament, which is set to begin Friday at Lagoon Park in Montgomery.

“I am ready and the girls are ready,” Rollan said. “This game was a real confidence builder. It kind of solidifies what I have been telling them: if they play as a team and play together then they can be as good as anyone in the state.”

The Patriots first round matchup will be against Lee Scott.

“Lee Scott is a good hitting team,” Rollan said. “They play good defense and they have good pitching. They are definitely not a pushover. We have to go out and earn our runs and play good defensively in order to win.”

Even though the tournament is a double-elimination format, the Patriots know the importance getting off to a quick start on Friday morning.

“It’s big because it’s confidence,” Rollan said. “If you go out there and win that first ball game, you feel like you can win the second win. If you lose the first one everyone feels like they are in an uphill battle. The first win for everybody is big.”

The Patriots hope for a big turnout during the tournament and they hope they can us that energy from the crowd on the field.

“We are expecting a really good atmosphere,” Rollan said. “My girls enjoy playing in that type of atmosphere. This is something that they are going to have a lot of fun with.”

First pitch is 10 a.m. Friday.