A home run by Rachael Donald in the top of the first gave the Dupo softball team a 1-0 lead that they held for 20 outs on Monday.

“Unfortunately, you need 21,” Dupo head coach Greg Pennock said.

In Monday’s Class 2A University of Illinois Supersectional in Champaign, the Tigers were one out away from advancing to the state tournament for the first time since 2008 when Monticello’s Chrissy Gadbury hit a two-out, two-run home run in the top of the seventh inning to go ahead 2-1.

One batter before, Dupo shortstop Skylure Barlow was unable to cleanly handle a tough, high-bouncing chopper and Monticello had new life.

Following the devastating home run, Barlow singled with one out in the bottom of the seventh but the Tigers could not get the tying run home.

Dupo ended its season at 30-7, and will return much of its starting lineup next year — including freshman pitching sensation Megan Brown.

Pennock said the team’s lack of offense against Monticello did them in.

“Offensively, we could have been better,” he said. “We did not have very many quality at bats. We needed to score more and not put ourselves in the position we were in at the end.”

On Saturday, the Tigers were down 2-0 to Williamsville in the third inning of the sectional championship at Litchfield, but came back to take the title.

Alyssa Strubberg and Caitlin Brizzi singled with two outs, which was followed by Donald’s singled to center to score Strubberg and the score was 2-1.

In the fifth inning, Savannah Maldonado singled to left to start the inning. Brizzi put down a sacrifice bunt to advance Maldonado. Donald shot a ball to center that scored Maldonado and Donald took second on the throw home.

Jessica Stansch was put in to run for Donald and scored the eventual game-winning run when Brown hit a hard grounder up the middle that went off the diving shortstop’s glove for a 3-2 lead.

Brown went the distance against Williamsville, registering 10 strikeouts.

Dupo blasted Pleasant Plains last Wednesday, 9-0, to advance to the sectional final.

“We had a great year,” Pennock said Tuesday while reflecting on the season. “We have a very young team and with more determination and desire, we can be even better next year. They truly are an amazing group. I’m lucky I get to coach them.”