PARIS, Texas-Texas High's softball team pulled even with No. 4 Forney in the Class 5A area series.
The Lady Tigers (20-11) rallied for two runs in the sixth, Lindsey Egger scattered four Lady Jackrabbit (30-3) hits, and THS posted a 2-1 victory Thursday at Paris Chisum's Lady Mustang Field.
The teams return to Chisum High School's softball diamond today for the decisive Game 3. The first pitch is set for 7 p.m.
Egger allowed just one run, coming on a solo home run, and had four strikeouts and one walk to out-duel Forney's Savanna DesRochers.
DesRochers had six strikeouts, two walks and was charged with both runs-unearned-on five hits. She had 15 Ks in Tuesday's opener, but only managed one after the fourth inning Thursday.
"Over the last three weeks, we've been playing really well," Tigers coach Robbie Hatfield said. "Lindsey is hitting her spots and kept them off-balance. They hit a couple of balls hard, but our defense came up big for us, as well."
After missing scoring chances in the second, third and fourth innings, Texas High broke the scoreless knot in the top of the sixth.
Ashanti Northcross walked on a full count to start the Tiger rally, and Bailey Groom lined a single to center field, advancing to second on the throw to third.
Lauren Allred grounded out to first, and Northcross scored on the play as the catcher didn't handle the relay throw home. Kylee Spriggs added an insurance run with her two-out single to center, giving Texas High a 2-0 lead.
That run proved decisive as Trinity Cannon smashed a solo home run for the Jackrabbits in the sixth, driving a 1-1 offering deep over the wall in left with two outs.
"Our young girls just don't give up; neither do our seniors," Hatfield said. "Our (five) ninth graders are just out there playing Hard. They probably don't know the pressure of what we're doing; they just are playing the game. And I'm proud of all our girls; they're playing well."
Spriggs' soft line drive past the first baseman went for the game's first hit, giving Texas high a baserunner with one out in the top of the second. A popout and groundout ended the inning.
In the bottom of the inning, Vanessa Hollingsworth lined a one-out single to center for the Jackrabbits' initial hit. She stole second after the second out, but she was left there as the inning ended.
Valeria Perez laid down a bunt single to lead off the Tigers' third, and Vanessa Perez sacrificed Valeria to second. DesRochers notched a pair of strikeouts to prevent the THS baserunner from advancing further.
Jessika Roberts had an infield single for Forney in the third, but a lineout to Egger ended the inning with the runner still at first.
Allred's line drive to left started the top of the fourth with a Tiger hit, but Texas High was unable to advance her.
Hollinsworth lined a two-out single to center in the bottom of the fourth, but a deep drive was chased down by center fielder Valeria Perez, on a running catch, to thwart the attempt.
Spriggs had two of the five Tiger hits. Hollingsworth had two of Forney's four hits.
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Lindsey Egger and Kylee Spriggs. Savannah DesRochers and Vanessa Hollingsworth. WP-Egger. LP-DesRochers. HR: FRN-Trinity Cannon, 6th, none on.