MONTGOMERY – Turns out it pays to pay attention.

Isabella’s softball team was able to hold on Friday for a 4-3 win over Clay County in the first game of the Class 2A South-Central Region tournament at Lagoon Park.

With Isabella clinging to a 4-2 lead, Clay Co. loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the seventh inning against Isabella pitcher Krysta Tyler.

The ball was hit deep to left fielder Kimi Jones, who was able to make the catch while tumbling over the temporary fencing erected in the outfield and splashing into the water that had accumulated during Thursday’s heavy rains.

One run scored and the runner from second base advanced to third, but the Isabella dugout noticed the runner failed to tag up on the play.

The Mustangs recorded out No. 2 of the inning on the mishap, and Tyler induced a pop-up to shortstop Raelynn Liveoak to end the game.

“We were fortunate to win that ballgame,” Isabella coach Mike Ratliff said. “You know the old saying, rather be lucky than good. Well, we were a little bit of both.”

Clay Co. struck first with two runs in the top of the first inning, but Isabella answered with three runs in the bottom half of the frame. Isabella plated another run in the sixth when Anne Marie Murray’s ground ball scored Samantha Culp.

Isabella faces Hale County in the double elimination tournament at 8 a.m. Saturday.