PORT NECHES — Port Neches-Groves stopped a Kingwood Park comeback in Game 2 of a best-of-three 5A bi-district series.

K-Park was not going to be stopped in Game 3.

The Panthers scored two runs in the seventh inning of Friday’s nightcap and escaped PNG with a 4-2 victory to advance to the area round. PNG held K-Park to two runs in the seventh in Game 2 to force the rubber match with a 5-3 win.

The Indians (23-9) evened things up in the finale with two runs in the second. In what was otherwise a pitcher’s duel, Alexis LaBure struck out 16 and walked five for PNG.

Callie Jordan (RBI, stolen base) and Kaitlyn Boudreaux (double, run scored) each knocked two hits for PNG. Kasidee Sartin (double, RBI, run), Sydnee Adams (stolen base), Rachel Hammersmith and LaBure each provided a hit.

A double led to the Panthers’ first two runs in the first inning. Their catcher threw out three Indians trying to steal in five attempts.

PNG had eight hits to K-Park’s four.

In Game 2, Sartin homered in the third inning to give the Indians a 3-1 edge. That followed Smith’s triple in first.

Sartin went 2 for 3 with a double and two runs scored. Jourdan hit 2 for 3, as did Bayja Newby (triple, run scored, stolen base) in the win.

PNG added a run each in the third through fifth innings to make it 5-1.

Hammersmith (RBI, run scored, stolen base) had the other hit for PNG. K-Park, which had 10 hits, tripled once and doubled twice.

Britni Hunt struck out five in 6 2/3 innings, and Boudreaux came on for the save.

K-Park won Game 1, 5-1, on Thursday.

— I.C. Murrell