WINNSBORO, Texas -- Pleasant Grove was down, 6-2, and had 3 outs left in the top of the final inning in a win-or-go-home playoff softball game.
The Lady Hawks put up 5 runs in the seventh and held on in a 7-6 victory over Mabank in Game 3 of the Class 4A Region II quarterfinals at Winnsboro High School on Saturday.
Pleasant Grove (18-12-4) plays Melissa (26-4) this week in the Class 4A Region II semifinal playoffs.
Kaylee Gann's clutch 2-out, 2 RBI double to center gave Pleasant Grove a 7-6 advantage going into the bottom of the seventh. Runion and Sarah Hackleman, who had walked, each scored on Gann's double.
Mackenzie Williams hit an RBI single to center to help Pleasant Grove bridge the gap in the seventh, 6-3. Hailey Allen doubled to left to put two on with 1 out. Abby Runion laced in a 2-run single to right to make it 6-5 for the Hawks.
Lexi Snyder earned the win, pitched 7 innings, gave up 6 runs on 4 hits, struck out 8 and walked 7.
Snyder reached on an error, Adi Koller singled and Williams had a bunt single to juice the bases with an out in the fifth for Pleasant Grove. Presley Humphrey slapped an RBI single to center to give the Hawks a 2-1 lead and Koller was thrown out at the plate. The next batter popped up, ending the top of the inning.
The Panthers juiced the bases with no outs in the fifth after three consecutive walks. Snyder induced a ground ball and the lead runner was thrown out at home.
Hudson singled up the middle on a hard roller and 2 runs scored to give Mabank a 3-2 edge. Hailey Ledbetter doubled to left as 3 runs scored for the Panthers to make it a 6-2 affair after the fifth frame.
Humphrey smacked an RBI double to center in the first frame to put the Hawks up early, 1-0.
Mabank's Payten Nolen slugged a solo home run with no outs in third to knot the game at 1-all.