CUSHING - The Preston Lady Pirate slowpitch softball team traveled here to face the host Cushing Lady Tigers.

Both teams used Monday's meeting as a tune-up for their respective regional tournaments that took place Thursday.

Preston was scheduled to compete at Rattan in the Class 3A regional tournament, while Cushing was scheduled to compete at the Class 5A regional tournament in Sulphur.

The visiting Lady Pirates came away with a hard-fought 20-18 victory over the host Lady Tigers to head into the regional tournament with a 27-9 record and ranked 8th in Class 3A.

In Monday's tune-up game at Cushing, the Lady Pirates opened the scoring with a run in the top of the first.

Cushing tallied three runs in the bottom of the inning to take over the lead at 3-1 after one inning of action.

The Lady Pirates regained the lead at 7-3 with six runs in the top of the second, then added four in the third for an 11-3 advantage.

A 3-run tally for the host Lady Tigers in the home half of the third made it an 11-6 contest, while Preston plated two runs in each of the next three innings for a 17-6 lead.

Cushing pushed across 12 runs in the bottom of the sixth to take over the lead, 18-17, with one inning remaining in regulation.

The Lady Pirates regained the lead at 20-18 with three runs in the top of the seventh.

The Preston defense kept the host Lady Tigers off the scoreboard in the bottom of the seventh to award the Lady Pirates the 20-18 decision.

The Lady Pirates finished with 21 hits in the contest, including seven home runs.

The top hitters for Preston against Cushing were Kaelyn Roberts (4 for 5, single, double, 2 home runs, 3 RBIs), Kami Love (4 for 5, 2 singles, 2 home runs, 5 RBIs), and Jordyn Ray (4 for 4, 2 singles, 2 doubles, 2 RBIs) with four hits apiece.

Roberts' two home runs came on a solo shot in the fourth and a 2-run blast in the seventh, while Love's two roundtrippers came on a 3-run shot in the second and a 2-run blast in the sixth.

Abbie Long (3 for 4, single, 2 home runs, 5 RBIs) and DaKaree Hanson (3 for 4, 2 singles, home run, 2 RBIs) were next offensively for the Lady Pirates against Cushing with three hits each. Long's home runs came on a 3-run shot in the third and a 2-run shot in the fifth. Hanson's roundtripper came on a 2-run shot in the second.

Rylee Pinkston also recorded a multi-hit game for Preston, going 2 for 3 with a pair of singles.

The final base hit for the Lady Pirates came on a single by Addison Williams.

Other baserunners for Preston against Cushing were Long (walk), Ray (walk), Pinkston (walk), Love (error), Roberts (error), Williams (error, fielder's choice), Maycie Jones (error), Kate Smith (error), and Alexis Stidman (fielder's choice).