EARLY – The Early Lady Horns avenged an earlier District 8-3A softball defeat and knocked the Bangs Lady Dragons out of a share of first place with a 7-5 victory Friday.

Early (16-6, 5-3) trailed Bangs (10-5, 6-2) by a 2-0 count after one inning, drew even at 2 in the the second, grabbed a 3-2 lead in the third, and opened a 7-2 advantage in the bottom of the sixth, before holding off a Lady Dragon rally in the top of the seventh.

The Lady Horns finished with five hits, three walks and took advantage of two Bangs errors.

Stoney Laughlin and Jordan Simmons both finished with two hits for Early, and Jordyn McIntyre added one. McIntyre contributed two RBIs while Simmons, who also doubled, added one.

In the circle, Teagan Lopez pitched all seven innings and allowed four earned runs on five hits with six strikeouts and two walks to secure the win.

The Lady Dragons notched five hits, walked twice and was aided by five Early miscues.

Jacee Miller, Neeley Bradley, Abby Wolf, Jadyn Miller and Sierra Lorah contributed hits. Wolf knocked in two runs while the Millers both doubled and drove in a run.

In the circle, Wolf gave up three earned runs on five hits with 10 strikeouts and three walks.

Early visits Comanche Tuesday while Bangs hosts Dublin.