Sometimes, one is all you need.

Louisiana’s Shelbi Cross drove in the winning run Wednesday night, propelling her team to a 16-and-under Little League Softball Southwestern Region Championship over East Texas, 3-2.

The win grants Louisiana one of eight spots in the Senior League World Series beginning this weekend in Roxana, Del.

“That was a battle,” Louisiana coach Tate Lipscomb said. “What a relief. They got it, and it’s awesome.”

Louisiana struck first, scoring two runs off a pair of East Texas errors. Shelby Mason and Savanna Spear each scored to take the early lead in the first inning.

“We capitalized on their errors,” Lipscomb said. “When that happens, it’s big. It’s a lot easier for your pitcher to go the mound with a lead.”

Mason remained composed in the starting pitcher spot before giving up two runs of her own in the top of the fifth. After Alyssa Howard reached first base on a wild pitch in the bottom of the frame, Cross blasted the go-ahead hit to right center field.

Lipscomb said as soon as the ball hit Cross’s bat, he knew Howard needed to score.

“I was not stopping my runner,” he said. “We were scoring that run. She hustled and made it.”

Cross said she wasn’t sure if Howard would make it all the way.

“I saw her, and I thought she might have gotten to third,” she said. “As soon as she scored I was so happy.”

With the cushion of just one run, Louisiana brought in Jensen Gremillion to close out the final two frames. She recorded four strikeouts, including the final batter for the win.

“I was ready for her,” Lipscomb said. “She is a pitcher that can control the situation. That’s what I needed at the end of the game. She has her mind right and is strong-willed.”

After falling just short in regional play the last year, Gremillion said she was overcome with emotions.

“I knew (the last strike) meant going to Delaware,” she said. “My coach was counting on me, so I knew I had to get it done. I’ve done it before, so it was just muscle memory.”

Mason said after pitching five innings, she had total confidence in the choice of relief.

“I trust Jensen completely, and when she came in they had started catching on to my pitches,” she said. “I knew she could finish it out.”

With a long road still ahead, Lipsomb said he plans to give his squad rest before flying to Delaware.

“Our ticket is punched, now we just have to go up there and try to finish it out,” he said.