From left: Alaina Stephens, Meagan Taylor, Abi Sumner, Emily Henderson and Alayna Davis come together before Senior Night festivities.

TIFTON — Tift County celebrated Senior Night Tuesday, honoring five of its veteran softball players with a pregame ceremony.

Alayna Davis, Emily Henderson, Alaina Stephens, Abi Sumner and Meagan Taylor were celebrated before the game, played against Thomas County Central. Unfortunately for the locals, the game ended in the favor of the Lady Jackets, 8-3.

Taylor started the game in the circle for Tift.

“Once she got out of the first inning, she pitched very well,” said Tift head coach Taylor Barber. Thomas County Central staked themselves to a four-run lead, but it wasn’t long until the Lady Devils were nipping at their heels.

“The bottom of the third, we came alive,” he said.

Henderson and Morgen Ray had back-to-back singles. Both moved up a bag on a passed ball, then Stephens grounded out to drive in Henderson. Josie Bullington smoked a single and Ray made it 4-2.

The Lady Jackets later increased their lead to 6-2. Tift scored its final run in the sixth, Davis driving in Paige Hill. Bullington and Hill each had a pair of hits in the contest.

Sumner relieved Taylor in the fifth. Sumner will likely be a starting pitcher Thursday when the Lady Devils take on Camden County in their final Region 1 home doubleheader. Hill is slated to be in the circle as well.

Tift is currently fourth in the region standings at 2-6, but a sweep over Camden (3-4) can move them into third place. The Lady Devils have not been eliminated from either of the top two spots. Colquitt County is 5-2 and Lowndes is 5-3. Colquitt and Camden still have a make-up game to play.