L-E edges Pitt, 11-8

TEXARKANA, Texas — Liberty-Eylau let Pittsburg make it a game down the stretch Tuesday night at H.E. Markham Park.

The Lady Leopards toppled Pittsburg in their District 15-4A contest, 11-8.

Ja’Kai Ray hit a inside-the-park homerun, driving in Taliyah James in the bottom of the first inning, giving L-E a 2-0 lead over Pittsburg.

Ray finished the game going 3 for 3 with 3 RBI, triple and homerun, while teammate James went 2 for 3 with four runs scored.

Pittsburg cut into the Leopards lead in the top of the second inning after Daytona Torrey drove in Ally Burns, 2-1.

“It was good for the girls to get this win during the second half of district play,” Liberty-Eylau head coach Lacey Middlebrooks said. “We would’ve liked to keep some of their runs off the board, but we’re glad to get out of their with a win.”

Shelby Ryther started in the circle for the Leopards. Ryther tossed a complete game, struck out five batters and have up six hits, while finishing 1 for 1 with 3 RBI at the plate for L-E.

In the bottom of the third inning, Ryther hit a double over the left-fielder’s head, driving in Ray and Makenzie Kvarda, giving the Leopards a 4-0 edge over the Pirates. Ray drove in Leah Walker in the bottom of the fourth inning, adding to L-E’s advantage over Pittsburg, 5-1.

Pittsburg walked in two runs and Micaiah Peters added a RBI on her single for the Leopards, adding to their lead over the Pirates, 8-1. Peters went 1 for 3 with a RBI.

Burns drove in a run for Pittsburg in the top of the fifth inning, adding to their Leopard’s deficit, 8-2.

Kvarda drove in James, giving the Leopards a seven run lead over the Pirates In the bottom of the fifth inning, 9-2. Kvarda went 2 for 4 with 2 RBI. James drove in Katelin Davis in the bottom of the sixth inning, before scoring on a Pittsburg throwing error, ballooning the L-E to nine runs, 11-2.

Pittsburg scored six runs in the top of the seventh inning, including a 3-run homerun by Katie Fitch with two outs.

The Leopards will be back in action on Friday, traveling across town to Pleasant Grove.