ARLINGTON -- Never has a baserunner been more exciting.

On a night when the Plano Senior and Weatherford softball team combined for just seven hits against 24 strikeouts, a double from Lady Wildcats junior Katie Hart in the bottom of the third innings looked huge.

And it was as that double led to the lone run Thursday evening, giving Plano a 1-0 victory and series lead in the best-of-3 Region I Semifinals.

"That was pretty much a pitcher's battle out there tonight," Hart said.

Of the seven hits registered Thursday, only Hart in the third and Plano sophomore Julia Knight in the fifth collected extra bases as both hit doubles.

Hart led-off the third with a double and junior pinch runner Chelsea Sartor advanced to third following a Weatherford error and then flare single by Plano junior Erin Lowell. That loaded the bases with one out, but the Lady Wildcats missed an opportunity to score when Sartor didn't tag up following a fly out to left. But Sartor would quickly make up for that error as she broke for home following a passed ball and slid under the tag to make it 1-0.

"Chelsea took the opportunity," said Kat Batey, Plano junior pitcher. "She's a very smart baserunner."

That gave Plano a 1-0 lead.

"That run was huge," Hart said. "Because we know both pitchers are good and it figured to be a one- or two-run game."

And that one run was all Batey needed as she allowed four hits on the evening while striking out 13.

"It just felt like everything I threw today was working," Batey said.

The only trouble Batey ran into came in the top of the fourth when Weatherford threatened to quickly even the game. The Lady Roos put runners at first and second base with two outs following back-to-back singles from Liz Konig and Ashlyn Wren. Neither would be plated though as Batey struck out the next hitter, her third punchout of the frame.

That was the only inning in which Weatherford advanced a runner into scoring position.

Though that's not to say Plano's offense fared much better. Hart and Lowell's hits in the third and Knight's double in the fifth represented the Lady Wildcats only hits against Weatherford pitcher Jordan Wallace, who struck out 11 while going the distance.

"There's no doubt this was a pitcher's duel," said Cynthia Zea, Plano head coach. "That Weatherford pitcher is legit, just like we fully expected her to be. But we learned a lot about her tonight and were still able to get the win."

Batey came away impressed as well.

"We really prepared for this because we know how good [Wallace] is," she said. "She's not necessarily overpowering, but she has good speed and a good rise ball as her go-to pitch."

Wallace struck out the side in the bottom of the sixth, but Batey responded by striking out two of her own in the top of the seventh to secure the 1-0 victory.

"It's nice to have different weapons that can help us win games," Zea said. "In Game 2 of the Hebron series it was small ball that got us the win, in Game 3 it was the long ball and now tonight, we were able to get the win with our speed."

And with rain clouds in the Metroplex, Thursday's win was all the more important.

"I told the girls this is our state championship game because if weather prevents us from playing Friday and Saturday, the series reverts back to Game 1," Zea said. "I knew the girls would find a way to win and they responded."

Game 2 of the series is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday at the University of Texas-Arlington. However, Plano and Weatherford also have Texas Women's University reserved in case one area is rained out. For potential changes of Game 2's location, go to: planowildcatsoftball.com.

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