MARSHALL, Texas — Pleasant Grove edged out Gilmer in Game 3, 3-2, and advanced to the Class 4A regional softball semifinals at Marshall High School's Lady Mavs Field on Saturday.
The Lady Hawks lost Game 2, 3-1, but won the rubber game in a Class 4A regional quarterfinal, best-of-three series.
"We had to fight it out," Pleasant Grove head coach Becca Collom said. "It was hot on the turf, but the girls did a good job of digging deep and sticking with it. We didn't score any cushion runs, so we had to make sure that we were tight on defense. Adi (Koller) was snagging groundballs at short. The defense did a good job of backing her (Lexie Snyder) up when she got tired.
"Lexie did a good job of digging deep. She kept them off balance and did a good job holding them off. We held the fort down, and we are fired up. I am beyond ecstatic for this group."
Lexie Snyder, in an incredible performance, pitched both games for the Hawks (17-10-2), earning a win and taking a loss over 14 innings of work.
"I was exhausted toward the end of the second game, but I knew that my team would back me up," Snyder said. "I knew that if I pitched right pitches, that I would come out there and shut them down; that's exactly what we did. I am feeling crazy, emotional and sad; everything. I am excited that we are advancing. They are our rival, and we wanted it more."
Pleasant Grove plays Aubrey in the Class 4A regional semifinals this week.
Game 3
Pleasant Grove 3, Gilmer 2
Snyder earned the win, tossed seven innings, allowed two runs on eight hits, struck out seven and did not issue any free passes.
The Hawks outhit the Lady Buckeyes, 13-8, and had less errors, 2-1.
Pleasant Grove broke the scoreless tie with a pair of runs in the fifth. Snyder led off with a double that hit the left-field wall, and the speedy Koller followed with an infield single. Natalie Nickolson's groundout moved the runners up, and a run scored on an error. The second run scored on a fielder's choice to give the Hawks a 2-0 lead.
Hailey Allen smacked a lead-off double that hit the center-field wall and scored on Koller's single to give Pleasant Grove an insurance run in the sixth, 3-0. Nickolson added a single in the inning.
The Buckeyes scored two runs in the sixth on four hits to help bridge the gap, 3-2.
Humphrey, MJ Williams and Hailey Allen hit consecutive singles for the Hawks to load the bases with no outs in the seventh. Gilmer got out of the inning unscathed, however, after retiring the next three batters.
Zoe Smith and Humphrey each had a single for Pleasant Grove in the scoreless first inning.
Timia Cooks singled up the middle for the Hawks in the second frame with no outs but was left stranded.
Humphrey and Allen each had a PG single in the fourth, but the Hawks failed to score.
Game 2
Gilmer 3, Pleasant Grove 1
In a pitcher's duel, the Buckeyes edged the Hawks despite Pleasant Grove outhitting Gilmer, 5-4.
Snyder tossed six innings, gave up three runs on four hits, struck out four, walked two and hit two batters in the loss.
The Buckeyes' starting pitcher Sarah Phillips threw seven innings ane gave up a run on five hits.
Snyder smacked a solo home run in the sixth inning for the Hawks' first run of the game. The round tripper brought Pleasant Grove to within a run, 2-1. Koller followed with an infield single but was left stranded after three consecutive outs.
Gilmer added an insurance run on fielder's choice in the sixth to take a 3-1 lead into the seventh.
Koller had an infield single in the first inning for Pleasant Grove, while teammate MJ Williams slapped a Texas Leaguer double to left field in the second frame.
The Lady Buckeyes took a 2-0 lead in the fourth on a pair of hits and a Hawk throwing error.
Humphrey singled toward third to lead off the Hawks' fifth inning. A batter later, Allen reached on an error. Humphrey and Allen each moved up a bag on a wild pitch to put runners on second and third with an out. They were left stranded after a flyout and a groundout.
The Gilmer victory forced a Game 3 that was played 30 minutes after Game 2.
