The Hendrickson High softball team’s season came to an end Friday night as they lost 12-4 to defending state champion New Braunfels Canyon at home.

The Hawks had lost to the Cougars 12-0 Thursday night and came out on the attack as they tried to stave off elimination. After Hendrickson hurler Alexa Cunningham set Canyon down in order in the top of the first inning Ashley Elicerio led off the bottom of the inning with a base hit that got past the Cougar centerfielder and rolled to the fence allowing Elicerio to reach third base. After Canyon pitcher Sara Mireles struck out the next hitter she faced, Kirsten Warner (two hits, two RBI) hit a ground ball to second base to plate Elicerio and put the Hawks up 1-0.

The Hendrickson lead was shortlived, however, as the Cougars touched up Cunningham for three runs in the top of the third and led 3-1 going into the bottom of the fourth. Warner led the inning off with a single but was thrown out trying to steal second base. With two outs Jennifer Jordan reached base on an error and came in to score when Stefanie Wozniak blooped a single to right field, cutting the deficit to 3-2.

That was as close as the Hawks would get to a comeback. Canyon exploded for six runs in the top of the fifth and led 9-2 when Hendrickson came to bat in the bottom of the inning. The scrappy Hawks tried to fight back as Renee Killingsworth led off the inning with a single, moved to second on Cunnigham’s sacrifice bunt and took third on a ground ball by Elecerio. Courtney McCoy plated her with a triple to centerfield. Warner followed with an infield single scoring McCoy with the last run of the season for Hendrickson.