The team that made the early statement put the exclamation point on it in the end.

McKenzye Williamson smacked a two-run double in the fifth, and Liberty-Eylau run ruled Pleasant Grove, 12-2, in a District 15-4A, cross-town rivalry game at H.E. Markham Park on Friday.

"Our bats have been silent throughout district," Lady Leopard head coach Kendra Cullum said. "We had a whole bunch of hitting drills this week. I am so proud of their response. I will take that team everyday.

"I can't give enough props to Isabella Gunderson. She has not given up very many earned runs this year. She has hit our spots and trusted the defense behind her."

Isabella Gunderson earned the win, gave up two runs on four hits, walked one and induced nine fly ball outs.

"We have to clean up our defense," Lady Hawk head coach Becca Collom said. "We left too many runners on base and didn't come up with the big hit when we had runners on base.

"Harleigh O'Neal did a good job coming in for Lexi Snyder. Lexi held it down for a while, we just didn't make some plays behind her."

Kayla Norris smacked an RBI triple to left center to pad Liberty-Eylau's lead, 5-2 in the second frame. Keeley Norris singled through the hole at shortstop as Kayla Norris scored.

Keeley Norris stole second and third and was brought home on Tamara Norris' RBI single through the gap at short to make it 7-2. The Leopards were not finished.

Tyrah Venable scored on a throwing error, and Laila Pegue laced in an RBI single to right to give L-E a 9-2 lead after two innings.

Williamson hit an RBI single down the third base line to score Kayla Norris, who had singled, to make it 10-2 after the third inning.

Bre Jones crushed a 2-run homer in the first inning for Pleasant Grove. Kaylee Kelley, who had singled, came around to score with Jones.

Liberty-Eylau answered with four runs in the bottom part of the frame to take the lead.

Kayla Norris, who walked, and Keeley Norris, who was struck by a pitch, scored on a throwing error when the Hawk's catcher tried to pick a runner off at first.

Williamson doubled to right center, and Venable brought her home on a Texas Leaguer to the third base side for the Leopards. Pegue hit a hot roller single that got through the left side of second base as Venable scored to make it 4-2.

Pleasant Grove starting pitcher Lexi Snyder gave up seven earned runs, six hits, and threw 1 2/3 innings.

Harleigh O'Neal tossed 2 2/3 innings, scattered five hits, gave up three runs, and struck out one.

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Pleasant Grove=200=00===2=4=3

Liberty-Eylau=451=02==—=12=11=1

Lexi Snyder, Harleigh O'Neal (2) and Alex Norton. Isabella Gunderson and Tamara Norris. WP-Gunderson. LP-O'Neal. HR: Pleasant Grove, Bre Jones, 1st, one on. Game ended with an out in the fifth, run rule