RUSSIAVILLE ― In a rare battle between two reigning state champions in Rossville and Western, all it took was one critical mistake to decide a winner on the game’s final play.
With two outs in the bottom seventh, Western freshman senior Allora Bevington took a secondary lead from third base after an outside pitch was delivered by Rossville senior Avery Layton. The ball hit the glove of junior catcher Gracie McDonald and rolled five feet from the plate.
Bevington broke for home without hesitation, beating Layton to the base without a throw or tag to give Western a 4-3 walk-off victory over Rossville.
It was an unorthodox and anti-climactic conclusion to what had been a classic battle between two elite teams with quality talent across its lineup. So strange was the result that Western’s players didn’t celebrate until 30 seconds after Bevington had touched home, having finally realized the game had ended.
“In something like that, it’s not one passed ball that was the reason why we lost,” Rossville coach Chris Gorbett said.
A trifecta of defensive miscues in the bottom seventh, coupled with a twist of bad luck, squandered what could’ve been the biggest win of the season for Rossville (10-3) in terms of regular season resume.
RBI double Gracie McDonald. pic.twitter.com/mwyhZ9K90y
Bevington struck out in the seventh, but beat a throw by McDonald to first base on a dropped third strike. Video replay showed McDonald’s throw appeared to beat Bevington, but it was close to the naked eye.
Rossville dropped a flyball at third before Bevington made her dash for home to help Western (19-3) avoid a potential upset at home.
“You learn from it, and that’s what the game is about, is learning from your mistakes and moving forward,” Gorbett said.
Rossville saw plenty of positives despite the loss, given they’ve battled major injuries throughout 2025.
Sophomore Allie Elliott hit a home run in the first to give Rossville a 1-0 lead. Elliott hasn’t been able to pitch in 2025 due to a sore arm after playing a strong secondary role in the circle for Layton in 2024 (57.1 innings pitched, 0.47 ERA, 96 strikeouts). This year, she can only hit and play first base, leaving Layton to throw more innings.
Rossville rallied behind the bats of outfielder junior Finley Gibson, junior shortstop Addi Gorbett and freshman Ava Delks McDonald after trailing 3-1 in the sixth inning.
Gibson singled, Delks walked, McDonald doubled in Gibson and Gorbett brought home Delks.
Rossville had the opportunity for more runs, but a sinking hard line drive by Elliott down the third base line was caught by Western third baseman Jocelyn Jeffers, who was on the bag for an unassisted double play.
While the win didn’t come for Rossville, the larger goal was accomplished in standing toe to toe with the reigning Hoosier Conference champions.
Western junior middle infielder Brynlee Erb, a Kentucky commit, was kept mostly at bay and adjusted to starting pitcher Kylie Miller in its third rotation.
Layton tossed a complete game with 14 strikeouts. Gorbett remains one win from reaching 100 for his career at Rossville.
Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached at ehanson@jconline.com, on Twitter at EthanAHanson and Instagram at ethan_a_hanson.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Two reigning state champions face off in softball. Who won between Rossville and Western?
Reporting by Ethan Hanson, Lafayette Journal & Courier / Lafayette Journal & Courier
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