TEXARKANA, Texas - Pleasant Grove's late game surge proved to be the difference maker with Liberty-Eylau on the softball diamond Tuesday night.
The Lady Hawks run-ruled the Lady Leopards at H.E. Markham Park in a District 15-4A game, 15-4.
"We're trying to get back on track and getting this win is something we've taliked about since Friday," Pleasant Grove head softball coach Becca Collom said. "They did just that.The girls responded well.
"I'm very pleased because everything didn't go perfect for us. We kept battling and plowing away at it."
Zoe Smith put the Hawks on the board in the top of the first inning, driving Adi Koller home on her fielder's choice to first.
Smith went 2 for 5 with 2 RBI and two runs scored.
"We've been trying to get an aggressive mindset running bases," Collom said. "We went three or four games where we got away from it. I'm glad we got back to it.
"We plan to plow away at it the rest of our district schedule."
Timia Cooks drove in MJ Williams in the top of the second inning for the Hawks, giving Pleasant Grove a 2-0 lead.
Cooks finished 1 for 4 with 3 RBI and a run scored.
Three Hawks singled before Presley Humphrey drove in Smith and Natalie Nickerson, adding to PG's lead over L-E, 4-0.
Humphrey went 2 for 2 with 2 RBI and a run scored.
Lexi Snyder received the win in the circle for the Hawks. Snyder tossed a complete game, struck out six and gave up four runs.
"She did a great job out there for us," Collom said. "We were trying to keep them off balance. She was able to work it in and out, plus up and down. "
Pleasant Grove added two more runs in the top of the fourth inning, taking a 6-0 advantage over the Leopards.
L-E broke its scoring drought in the bottom of the fourth, when Ja'Kai Ray scored on a wild pitch.
The Leopards loaded the bases before Taliyah James slapped a triple over the center fielder's head, clearing the bases and cutting the Hawks' edge to two runs, 6-4.
James finished 1 for 3 with a triple and 3 RBI.
Cooks drove in Williams to give the Hawks a 7-4 cushion in the top of the fifth inning.
"We talked about passing the bat," Collom said. "I'm glad we were able to do that. We've been preaching to the girls about the next 60 feet when they're on base. I'm glad they did a good job of that tonight, running with their aggressiveness."
The Hawks added to their lead in the top of the sixth inning after Harleigh O'Neal and Williams drove in runs, 9-4.
O'Neal scored on a wild pitch on the following batter.
O'Neal went 2 for 4 with an RBI and run scored, while teammate Williams finished 2 for 3 with an RBI. Williams also scored two runs.
The Hawks drove in four more runs before the end of the inning, taking a double-digit lead over the Leopards, 15-4.