The Effingham Lady Hearts saw their softball season come to a close Wednesday afternoon after dropping a 9-6 decision to Mt. Vernon in an opening-round game of the Class 3A Mt. Vernon Regional.

The Lady Rams banged out 14 hits and led by as much as 9-2 before Effingham tried to stage a late rally.

The Lady Hearts scored single tallies in the second and third and were within 4-2 when Mt. Vernon scored five times in the top of the fifth to take a commanding lead.

In the bottom of the fifth, Jennifer Jamison reached on an error and Tori Budde singled. Mya Harvey followed with an RBI single and a second run scored on an error – one of seven committed by the Lady Rams.

The Lady Hearts scored two more runs in the sixth. Daelyn Dunston reached on an error and scored on a double by Abby Cunningham. Jamison later had a sacrifice fly to trim the lead to three runs. EHS got two runners on base in the seventh before the final out was recorded.

Saige Althoff took the loss.

The Lady Hearts finished their season with a 15-15 record.