A big inning backed up superb pitching.
Liberty-Eylau plated six runs in the fifth inning, and pitcher Isabella Gunderson threw a solid seven innings as the Lady Leopards rolled past Paris, 8-1, in its District 14-4A opener.
"Isabella (Gunderson) has really been bearing down and throwing strikes early," Liberty-Eylau first-year head coach Kendra Cullum said. "I couldn't ask for anyone better than her. When we had miscues in the field, she came up big.
"We didn't start off the game well," Cullum said. "Paris has a good pitcher. We made our adjustments and were able to score a lot of runs in the fifth. I tip my hat to their pitcher because she made more adjustments after the fifth."
Gunderson struck out six, walked two, allowed five hits and just one run.
Paris' pitcher Saya Swain gave up eight runs-five earned-on seven hits, walked five, and struck out 12.
Savannah Phelps, the first Leopard batter of the game, belted an inside-the-park home run to give Liberty-Eylau a 1-0 lead after the first.
With an out in the fourth, the Lady Cats' Kimmie Franklin singled and later took second base on a throwing error. Alexxis Braswell hit an RBI to knot the game at 1-all after four frames.
The Leopards put a rally together in the fifth with two outs. Tori Foster walked and McKenzye Williamson walked. Foster moved to third on a wild pitch and Williamson stole second. Keeley Norris hit a 2-run single through the legs of the third baseman to give L-E a 3-1 lead.
Keeley Norris stole second, and Mariah Coleman reached on an error. Kayla Norris landed safely on first after the catcher dropped the throw to home on fielder's choice as a run scored. Kayla Norris stole second base.
Makayla Power popped in a 2-run single to center and the center fielder committed an error, which led to Power taking second base. Gunderson smacked a pitch to left center as Power scored to make it 7-1.
In the sixth, Foster made it to first after a passed ball by the catcher on strike three and took second base on a passed ball. With two outs, Mariah Coleman walloped a double into left center to score Foster and make it 8-1.
Phelps was 2 for 3 with an RBI, Keeley Norris went 2 for 3 with a pair of singles and 2 RBI, and Power was 1 for 3 with a 2-run hit for the Leopards. Gunderson went 1 for 3 with a 1-run double.
Liberty-Eylau (14-3-1, 1-0) plays at North Lamar (14-2) Tuesday at 6 p.m. in a District 14-4A showdown.
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Isabella Gunderson and Savannah Phelps. Saya Swain and Taylor White. WP-Gunderson. LP-Swain. HR: LE-Savannah Phelps, 1st, none on.