STEPHENVILLE — For seven innings Thursday, Abilene High’s Avah Reyes and North Richland Hills Richland’s Stacy Jennings went toe to toe, matching each other almost pitch for pitch and out for out at the Stephenville softball field.

But a single run, scored on a two-out infield hit in the bottom of the fifth, proved the difference as the Lady Royals escaped the thrilling pitcher’s duel with a 1-0 win to land the first punch in the Region I-5A Division I semifinal series.

The two teams will return to the same field Friday for the remainder of the best-of-three affair, with Game 2 slated for 4:30 p.m. With their backs now against the wall, the Lady Eagles will be looking to rebound with a win in that one to force a deciding third game immediately after.