A five-run inning in each game helped Dalton sweep Richmond Hill 8-0 and 9-4 Wednesday night in the AAAAAA state tournament.

It was the second consecutive year the Catamounts beat the Wildcats to reach the Elite Eight.

“They had all of their starters back from last year and a lot of senior experience,” said Coach Angie Hummeldorf. “This is our second consecutive region championship and trip to the Sweet 16, so we’re definitely building toward something.”

Dalton led 2-0 in game one before five Richmond Hill errors in the fifth inning helped the Catamounts score five runs.

“We had too many miscues and just gave the game away,” Hummeldorf said. “We only had one hit and you’re not going to win doing that.”

The Wildcats scored first in game two when Hannah Fitzgerald singled with two outs and pinch runner Bella DuBois scored on Madelyn Gorsuch’s double. Trailing 3-1 in the top of the fourth inning, Mackenzie White homered after Haley Taylor reached base on an error to tie the game at 3-3.

Taylor scored again in the sixth inning to tie the game at 4-4 on a double by Sarah Cowart, but Dalton exploded for five runs in its half of the sixth, all of them coming with two outs.

“We did a better job in the second game challenging their pitcher, but some defensive and base-running errors hurt us,” Hummeldorf said.

The Wildcats, who finish the season at 20-11, lose two seniors — White and Lyndsey Boone.

“It hurts, but I told the girls I was so proud of them,” Hummeldorf said. “Our expectation is to win a state championship and we’re laying a foundation.”