JAY – There was simply no quit by the Jay softball team.

Zena Armandi raced home with the winning run with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Tigers rallied three times in an 8-7 triumph against Monmouth.

There was plenty at stake with Jay and Monmouth ranked fifth and sixth, respectively, in Western Class C.

Jay trailed 7-5 entering the bottom of the eighth. Things looked bleak, but the youthfulness worked in its favor.

“These girls are resiliant,” Jay coach Robin Roberts said. “We start three freshmen and three sophomores, and (Zena Armandi) is the only senior. It actually works in our favor because the girls are too young to get tensed up.”

Betsy Grimelli led off the eighth with a single and went to third when Emily Boivin’s batted ball was dropped. Grimelli then scored on Moure’s RBI single and Moure scored on Armandi’s ground ball.

The winning play resulted when the ball eluded Monmouth catcher Beth Neal, and Armandi broke for home.

Jay sophomore Alexi Smith (eight strikeouts) was the winning pitcher. The offense received three hits each by freshman Brittany DiPompo and Grimelli, and two each by Jeannetta Shank and Boivin.

“I’m proud of my girls,” Jay coach Robin Roberts said. “We felt good about ourselves after having been down to two outs and two strikes in a prior inning. They just never gave up, and we got some key hits.”

Monmouth (6-2) took a 5-4 lead when Katie Woodman singled and eventually scored on a wild pitch in the top of the seventh inning.

The Mustangs sparkplug was Jenn Lola (3-for-3, four runs, RBI) who hit a solo home run with two outs in the sixth. The shortstop also threw a runner out at home plate.

“This is the third game that we have come back to win,” Roberts said. “But, that is a good team over there. Monmouth is one of the better teams in the MVC.”

Monmouth coach Rachel Bernier was unavailable for comment after the game.

Jay scored three runs in the first, keyed by Shank’ two-run single. But, the Tigers’ offense was shut down by Mustangs pitcher Jill Armstrong (seven strikeouts) until allowing two runs in the sixth.

Monmouth, meanwhile, chipped away with single runs in the third-through-seventh innings. Lola stole home and Alyssa Morin had three singles.