South Warren's Lauren Martin (1) tags out Anderson County's Kelsey Sutherland (33) Friday, June 10, 2016, at home plate during South Warren's 7-2 loss in the Worth/KHSAA state softball tournament at Jack C. Fisher Park in Owensboro. (Bac Totrong/photo@bgdailynews.com)

OWENSBORO — The South Warren softball team’s first appearance in the Worth/KHSAA softball tournament ended Friday with a 7-2 loss to Anderson County at Jack C. Fisher Park in Owensboro.

Less than 24 hours after losing to Scott County in its tournament debut, South Warren tried to rally late but couldn’t avoid elimination, ending the tournament 0-2.

While the Spartans were disappointed with the early exit, South Warren coach Chris Riggs said the future is bright with no seniors and only three juniors on this year’s roster.

“We’ve had a great year,” Riggs said. “You can’t let two games show what you’ve done the rest of the year. You have to look at what you’ve done the whole year. We have everybody back, and we are going to shoot for the moon and stars again.”

South Warren found itself in an early deficit for a second straight day after Kaci Currens’ three-run home run in the top of the first put Anderson County in front.

The Spartans scored in the bottom of the inning, but Anderson County answered with an unearned run in the top of the third.

South Warren’s defense kept the deficit at 4-1 by throwing two runners out at home plate to end the third inning, but Anderson County added another run in the fifth.

The Spartans tried to mount a comeback in the bottom of the fifth, with Katie Conley’s RBI single making the score 5-2.

South Warren’s threat would end one batter later when Lauren Martin hit a comebacker to pitcher Allyson Moore, who threw home to start an inning-ending double play. One inning later, the Spartans had runners at first and third with one out, and loaded the bases with two outs, but were once again turned away.

Anderson County added some insurance with two runs in the seventh – including a homer by Bailey Curry – and South Warren was retired in order in the bottom of the seventh.

“Sometimes you hit the ball, and sometimes it goes right at people,” Riggs said. “It was just some bad luck in those situations, and it just wasn’t our day.”

The Spartans finished with five hits from five different players.

Currens had three hits for Anderson County.

South Warren finished the season 25-15, claiming the first Region 4 title in school history and winning the District 14 regular-season title for a second straight season.

And while the first trip to the state tournament was brief, Conley said the Spartans have plenty to reasons to be proud.

“We wanted to continue our ride throughout this, but we played really hard the last two games,” Conley said. “(This experience) has helped us a lot. It’s helped us mature. Next year we can experience it again and we can be ready.”

Freshman outfielder Alexis Isable said this year’s showing has the Spartans already motivated to come back next year.

“We were going to fight to the end,” Isable said. “We proved a point by coming here. We wanted to prove another point by showing that we will fight. We definitely want to make that reappearance next year so can still make our point.”

ACHS 301 010 2 – 7 11 0

SWHS 100 010 0 – 2 5 3

WP: Aldridge LP: Williams

— Follow prep sports reporter Micheal Compton on Twitter @mcompton428 or visit bgdailynews.com.