COMMERCE -- Carthage defeated Groesbeck, 7-1, Thursday at Texas A&M-Commerce and moved to within one game of reaching the Class 4A Region III quarterfinal round.

The game was shortened to six innings due to lightning.

Starting pitcher Samantha Clakley struck out 13 Groesbeck batters, allowed two hits and five walks through the game. Groesbeck's lone run was unearned.

The victory pushed Clakley's pitching record to 22-1 this season.

Clakley also led Carthage in the RBI department with two-score double.

Kacey Maines batted 2-for-3 with a run scored. Ashleigh Edge, Briana Gwinn and Krystin Martin played a hand in scoring as well.

The two teams will resume their best-of-three playoff series Saturday at 11 a.m. back at Texas A&M-Commerce. If a third game is necessary, it will be played 30 minutes after the conclusion of the second game.

More From East Texas Sports Network