DENTSVILLE — Union’s Dixie Darlings were in the driver’s seat for the first couple innings of their match against Hanahan in the 2010 State Tournament in Dentsville on Saturday but couldn’t hold on to capture a win in the first round of action.

The Dixie Darlings fell to their first-round foes 20-16.

It was the third inning that made the difference in the game.

“Going into the third inning we were winning 10-3,” said head coach Stacy Kicidis. “Our girls had a couple of bad breaks in innings three and four and a few key errors that lead to us falling behind 17-10.”

The girls fought back in the fourth frame, however, and got within one of tying the game up, ending the inning behind Hanahan 17-16.

But Hanahan’s momentum wouldn’t be quelled and the opposing team came back in the fifth inning to score three more runs and give the Union girls the 20-16 defeat.

The girls came back in their second game of the tournament, besting Boiling Springs 23-12.

“We had some great plays on defense and our hitting was too hot to handle,” Kicidis said.

The girls advanced to game three and were set to play Aynor on Monday night.