WAXAHACHIE – For Waxahachie's Sherri Polanco and her teammates, this hasn't been one of their better series at the plate.

But Polanco delivered a three-run triple that sparked an eight-run fifth inning for Waxahachie (28-12) in its 8-6 win over McKinney North (26-8-2) in Game 2 of the Class 4A Region II semifinals.

The series is tied, 1-1, with Game 3 scheduled for 1 p.m. today in Coppell.

McKinney North didn't go down quietly. A three-run home run by Kathy Shelton capped a four-run seventh inning that fell just short of an amazing comeback.

After pitching a no-hitter Thursday night, McKinney North's Ashliegh McLean allowed just one hit in 42/3 innings of work in Game 2.

Down 2-0, Waxahachie shortstop Dakota Flesher began the two-out rally in the fifth with one of six walks. Two batters later, Polanco stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded.

"I was praying for a clutch hit," she said.

Polanco made enough contact that right fielder Sarah Becker couldn't reach it after making a valiant effort with a slide. That was enough to spark the Waxahachie bats.

Second baseman Laura Simpson followed with a two-RBI single, and Brianna Banda hit a three-run home run to give Waxahachie an 8-2 lead.

Shelton, who was a triple shy of the cycle, cut the lead to two with a home run in the seventh. But pitcher Tori Banda came in in relief, and the tying run was left on second.