Autumn Pauler found the hole between shortstop and third base for an RBI single in the fifth inning, clinching the Major Girls Section I Texas East title for Washington County over Bryan United, 12-2, on Tuesday at Weedon Ballpark.

The single scored Jordan Wellmann, who reached second the pitch before on a United error. WC advances to the Texas East State Tournament, which begins Saturday in Seguin.

WC did most of its damage early, scoring eight runs in the first, but United pitcher Lauren Galvan entered in relief after eight WC batters had come to the plate and kept the damage to a minimum until the fourth inning.

WC got RBI singles from Macie Becker, Sloan Wellmann and Lauren Winkelmann and an RBI double by Madison Tomachefsky. WC was unable to add to the lead for two innings, though, as Galvan battled to get out of jams in the second and third innings.

Galvan was then able to extend the game by keeping United within nine runs when she tagged out Winkelmann at home for the third out in the fourth after a pitch went back to the backstop. Catcher Audriana Andrade hustled back and made the throw to get an assist on the play after WC had scored three runs earlier in the inning on wild pitches.

United, in its first season after Bryan West and Bryan North merged, was coming through the losers' bracket and would have had to beat WC twice to advance to state.

United got its two runs in the top of the fourth inning. Desiray Sauseda walked with two outs and was driven home on the hardest hit ball of the night, a triple to the fence in left by Melanie Savala. Savala then scored when Andrade reached on an error to make it 8-2.

Andrade and Chandon Morris got the other two hits off of Becker, who went the distance for the win. She struck out two and walked one, letting her defense help out.

Second baseman Hanna Schwartz ranged to her left twice to gobble up ground balls and end the inning, and shortstop Wellmann pulled in a ball over her shoulder while running straight back to end the top of the fourth.

United shortstop Savala matched Wellmann with a similar catch in which she roamed toward second base in the fourth.

Winkelmann and Becker had two hits each for WC, which had nine altogether.

United's Galvan struck out three and gave up five hits in 3 1/3 innings.

Junior Softball

Washington County advanced to the state tournament in Seguin with an 11-0 victory over Smithville at Weedon Ballpark.

Colleen Bentke was the winning pitcher, throwing five of the six innings, and Alli Spivey scored three runs for the Section I champions.

Smithville had eliminated Bryan United, 6-5, the night before in the most competitive game of the tourney.