MARSHALL, Texas-For the second straight game, Gilmer came up with late heroics to spoil Liberty-Eylau's softball postseason.
The Lady Buckeyes rallied for a run in the top of the seventh and two more in the eighth inning, sweeping the Class 4A bi-district series with a 4-2 win over the Lady Leopards Thursday at ETBU's Taylor Field.
Karsyn Lindsey delivered a pair of big hits off the bench, finishing with three RBI for Gilmer. Lindsey came in as a pinch-hitter in the seventh and remained in the game in left, coming up with a two-run, bases-loaded single to right center to give the Buckeyes a two-run lead.
Tamara Norris doubled with two outs in the bottom of the extra frame, but that was as much as L-E managed in the eighth off winning pitcher Madeline Barber.
Barber threw 140 pitches over eight innings, struck out six, walked three and allowed four hits and two earned runs.
Isabella Gunderson absorbed the loss, tossing 120 pitches in eight innings. Gunderson gave up six hits and four runs-three earned-with three strikeouts and five walks.
The Leopards grabbed the early momentum, scoring twice after receiving three free passes in the first inning.
Kayla Norris walked on five pitches, and Keeley Norris lined a double into right-center field. McKenzye Williamson squeeze bunted Kayla Norris home for the initial run after the tag at the plate was late.
A pair of walks were sandwiched around a fielder's choice, but the second base on balls forced home Keeley Norris, earning Laila Pegue an RBI. L-E left the bases loaded to the end the first.
The Buckeyes cut their deficit in half in the top of the second, taking advantage of a leadoff walk to Melody Larkins. She was bunted to second, and after the second out, she stole third.
An error allowed Larkins to score to make it 2-1.
The pitchers and defenses settled down in the third.
After an error allowed the Leopards' leadoff batter on in the third, a line drive to first base resulted in a double play. Tyrah Venable doubled to left-center for Liberty-Eylau with two outs in the fourth but was stranded, and Keeley Norris legged out a two-out infield hit in the fifth but didn't advance.
Gilmer went down in order in the third, Larkins singled with one down in the fourth but was erased by a double play on a lineout to Gunderson.
The Buckeyes' leadoff batter in the fifth singled to left but never got past second base after being sacrificed over, and a pair of walks in the sixth surrounded a strikeout.
A deep flyout to right field resulted in the third double play of the game, Venable making the catch and throwing a strike to third baseman Savannah Phelps, who tagged out the runner attempting to advance from second.
Gilmer tied the game in the top of the seventh on consecutive singles by Bre Croley, Karlye Johnston and Lindsey. The Buckeyes loaded the bases on a two-out walk, but Gunderson fanned the next batter to lead all three on and keep the score tied.
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Madeline Barber and Melody Larkins. Isabella Gunderson and Tamara Norris. WP-Barber. LP-Gunderson.