Gilmer shuts out Lady Hawks

PG suffers 9-0 loss in district tilt

TEXARKANA, Texas — Pleasant Grove struggled at the plate, and Gilmer cranked out 10 hits en route to a 9-0 victory in a District 15-4A softball game on Tuesday at Lady Hawk Field.

“I am disappointed,” Lady Hawks head coach Becca Collom said. “We definitely didn’t play our best. We had some opportunities to get some timely hits, but we just didn’t string it together. We made good, solid contact but we hit right at people.

“I thought we could have done a better job adjusting. It showed because we didn’t end up scoring. We came out with energy and then we lost it. When they started scoring, we got down a little bit. It is hard to get energy back when you lose it.”

Lexie Snyder, the starter in the circle for Pleasant Grove (8-7-2, 2-2), absorbed the loss, allowed nine runs on 10 hits, struck out seven and walked four. Seven of the runs were earned.

Starting Lady Buckeyes pitcher Sarah Phillips tossed a shutout, earned the win, allowed five hits, struck out three, walked two and induced 10 flyouts.

Snyder walked in the first frame and Adi Koller beat out the throw from third for a single for Pleasant Grove. Each runner moved up a base on a fielder’s choice but were left stranded.

Harleigh O’Neal hit a slap single to the shortstop for the Hawks with an out in the fourth inning. After a flyout and a groundout she was left stranded.

Zoe Smith beat out a throw for a slap single with no outs in the fifth for Pleasant Grove. The Buckeyes threw out the next batter, who bunted, and caught the courtesy runner headed back to second for a double play.

MJ Williams had the Hawks’ last hit, a single in the seventh. After two outs were recorded, Williams was tagged out trying to steal third. The Lady Hawks had four errors, while Gilmer had none.

Pleasant Grove plays at Paris in a District 15-4A game at 6 p.m. on Thursday.