LIMA (WLIO) — A full slate of district semifinal softball was finally completed Thursday night, and one of the night’s biggest matchups delivered a postseason classic at UNOH.

Western Buckeye League rivals Shawnee and Celina battled in a back-and-forth Division III showdown that ultimately ended with the Bulldogs escaping with an 8-7 victory.

Tied at 4 in the fourth inning with the bases loaded, Shawnee’s Riley Rhodes lifted a high fly ball to left field that was dropped, allowing two runs to score and giving the Indians a 6-4 lead.

But Celina answered immediately in the bottom half. With runners on base, Lilly Gonzalez slapped a hit the opposite way to drive home two runs and tie the game once again at 6-6.

The Indians regained the advantage in the sixth inning when Anna Menke lined a shot off the wall in left field, scoring Maddy McAlexander to put Shawnee ahead 7-6.

Still, the Bulldogs had one more response left. After tying the game at 7, Gonzalez came through again with the go-ahead RBI that ultimately proved to be the difference.

Celina held on from there to win an instant classic 8-7 and advance to the district championship game.

The Bulldogs will now face Madison Comprehensive on Saturday at 11 a.m. in Willard.

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