The three-time state champion Forrest Lady Rockets showed their mettle on Senior Night Tuesday at the Field of Dreams in Chapel Hill as they gutted out a 2-1 win over Nolensville to avenge their lone District 12-AA loss of the season earlier in the season to the Lady Knights.

“That was a good win against a tough pitcher, I’m very proud of our progress we made in the game,” Forrest coach Shelby Lightfoot said. “We are still not where we need to be, but a big win for our seniors.”

Forrest (16-3-1) can claim the regular season district title and earn the right to host the upcoming district tournament with a win at Giles County on Thursday. The Lady Rockets beat the Lady Bobcats 13-3 at Chapel Hill in the first meeting this season.

“Hosting is a goal of ours,” Lightfoot said. “Anytime you can play at home it’s an advantage.”

“We will celebrate our win tonight and start getting ready tomorrow to travel to Giles on Thursday.”

The District 12-AA Tournament begins on Tuesday, May 4.

Forrest ace Ashley Milligan, who was one of eight seniors honored before the start of the contest, turned in her most dominating performance of her career in the circle as she gave up just three hits, one unearned run, and struck out a career-high 18.

Milligan struck out the first nine batters she faced in the game and escaped a couple of tough spots in both the fourth and fifth innings with huge inning ending strikeouts.

“Dominating performance by Ashley on the mound,” Lightfoot said. “She set the tone early and to give our offense time to grow confidence. That was a big factor for our team’s success.”

Nolensville hurler Rylan Smith has also had a great season and she got out of a two-on, one-out jam in the bottom of the second inning before the Lady Rockets broke through with a run in the bottom of the third.

“The girls wanted to prove not to count them out,” Lightfoot said. “The early loss against Nolensville has been an offense motivator.”

“The girls have been putting in the work to put up runs against good pitching, and they did just that.”

Senior Jenna Blanton reached on a two-out Nolensville infield error and promptly stole second base before senior third baseman Karley Daughrity drove Blanton home, drilling an RBI single to center field.

Forrest was looking to add to their lead as a Laura Mealer single and a base on balls to Macyn Kirby loaded the sacks, but Smith escaped any further damage with an inning ending groundball out to second base.

Nolensville’s leadoff batter Macy Dupree, who had two out of the three hits in the game for the Lady Knights, placed a bunt single in the perfect spot to start the top of the fourth inning.

Dupree stole second and went to third on a wild pitch before Milligan induced an infield pop-up for the first out.

Milligan reared back, striking out the final two batters of the inning to keep Nolensville off the scoreboard.

Forrest did not score off Smith in the bottom of the inning and Milligan got out of another jam in the top of the fifth as Sydney Dickinson led off with a base hit and went to second on a passed ball.

Not to worry, Milligan slammed the door shut with three straight outs, including a pair of strikeouts to keep the one-run lead.

Smith faced four batters in the home half of the frame and in the top of the sixth inning, Nolensville finally got on the board as Dupree came up with a one-out bunt single and took second on a sacrifice bunt by Avery Patton.

Dupree went to third on a wild pitch and scooted home with the tying run on a passed ball.

The battled tested Lady Rockets did not flinch as they responded in the home half of the frame as Kirby led off with a sharp single to left field and stole second base.

Milligan, who failed to get a bunt down earlier in the game, came up with a huge bunt single to put Forrest runners on the corners for senior Katelyn Helmick.

Helmick came through with an RBI sacrifice fly to center field to put the Lady Rockets in front 2-1 and in the visitor’s portion of the seventh inning, Milligan finished off the game with a bang, striking out the side in order.

“Our seniors have been clutch in multiple situations this season,” Lightfoot said. “However, they also understand they have the hardest role and that is what is expected of them.’

“As a senior you have to set the bar for the younger players and they are doing just that.”

Forrest had seven hits off of Smith as Kirby went 2-for-3, while Daughrity, Mealer, Abby Ferguson, Helmick, and Briley Burnham all had one hit apiece for Forrest.

The Lady Rockets have also scheduled a game versus longtime rival Eagleville at home on Tuesday, May 4 at 5 p.m.

The Lady Eagles are coached by former Forrest great Brianda Elmore Sanders, who was a member of the 2006 state title team along with Lightfoot.

Sanders has the Lady Eagles at the top of the District 8-A standings with a 14-4 overall record and undefeated in league play at 9-0.

Nolensville 000 001 0-1 3 1

Forrest 001 001 X-2 7 0

Nolensville: Macy Dupree 2-for-3, Sydney Dickinson 1-for-3.

BB: Paige Dickinson.

RS: Dupree.

SAC: Avery Patton, Rylan Smith.

SB: Dupree.

Team LOB: 3

Fielding

E: Paige Dickinson.

LP: Rylan Smith (6IP, 7H, 2R, 1ER, 6K, 2BB).

Forrest: Macyn Kirby 2-for-3, Karley Daughrity 1-for-3, Laura Mealer 1-for-2, Abby Ferguson 1-for-2, Katelyn Helmick 1-for-2, Briley Burnham 1-for-3.

BB: Mealer, Ferguson.

RS: Jenna Blanton, Kirby.

RBI: Daughrity, Helmick.

SF: Helmick.

ROE: Blanton

FC: Ashley Milligan.

SB: Kirby 2, Blanton, Addi Bunty.

CS: Ferguson.

Team LOB: 7

WP: Ashley Milligan (7IP, 3H, 2R, 1ER, 18K, 2BB).