A week ago it look liked the Decatur High School softball team's decade-long run of playoff appearances was coming to an end. In reality, that served as a wake-up for the Lady Eagles and they have salvaged their small playoff hopes going into the final game of the season against 8-3A champion Bowie.

Decatur beat Pilot Point and Sanger within 72 hours to change the flow of the playoff race. The biggest game was Monday in Pilot Point where DHS had to beat the second-place Bearcats to avoid elimination.

Pitching and defense played the biggest role in the outcome of the game. Pitcher Megan Dittrich allowed just five hits and only allowed scores in one inning.

"This was our best game of the year. Our girls played their hearts out and always believed they were going to win," said DHS coach Scott McTee. "Our senior leadership really showed tonight. This game demonstrated how far we have come as a team - everyone did exactly what they needed to for us to be successful. I couldn't be prouder of this team."

The defense, which has struggled at times this year, was solid behind Dittrich. The unit did not give Pilot Point many scoring chances.

Decatur, meanwhile, had several scoring chances while racking up nine hits. The locals scored solo runs in the first and second innings to take an early lead.

The Bearcats evened things up in the fourth inning with their only runs of the night. The game remained knotted at 2-2 until the ninth inning where the Lady Eagles delivered the knockout punch.

Seniors Lacey Oates and J.J. Addington were two of the reasons Pilot Point lost. The duo smashed home runs to lead the offensive assault. Oates also had an RBI double along the way.

Ashley Lujan was the most consistent at the plate where she went 3-for-4 and scored a run. Karen Harris, Mercy Staley and Kayla Slimp scattered singles and Candace Clayton had a sacrifice to score a run.

Decatur, now 9-4 in district play and 11-5 for the season, doubled up Sanger over the weekend. The locals littered their home field with 15 hits en route to a 10-5 victory.

Despite a quick start in which DHS went ahead 5-0, the Indians battled back with three runs in the third and two in the fifth to tie things up at 5-5.

The Lady Eagles tightened things defensively and pulled away. They scored two in the fourth inning and three more in the sixth to take care of Sanger.

Harris was lethal behind the plate where she ripped four base hits. Lyndsey Hicks went 3-for-4 with a double and Staley smacked three singles to keep the bases warm.

Addington continued her tear at the plate where she had a triple among her three hits and two RBIs.

Dittrich surrendered 12 hits but did not allow a walk and struck out five batters.